The impact of COVID-19 on the refugee community in Malaysia

James Bawi Thang Bik (2nd from left) coordinating support efforts during the pandemic.

James Bawi Thang Bik says COVID-19 has had a major impact on the Chin refugee community living in Malaysia. James has just stepped down as Chair of the Alliance of Chin Refugees. In his leadership role James has seen a large number of refugees contract the virus, and a significant number of refugees die of COVID-19.

James too has had COVID-19. James contracted the virus through contact with positive cases while he was providing material aid to people in the Chin community in Kuala Lumpur.

Fortunately, James had been double vaccinated and recovered. James said even so “I had a runny nose, headaches, was coughing and felt dizzy”. James said he “moved out of his apartment because he shared it with others and quarantined in a room at the Alliance of Chin Refugee offices”.

James continued, “I lost taste and smell and was low on energy, I knew I needed to keep eating even though I didn’t feel like it. I read, watched movies and tried to keep my mind strong. People brought me food and I slowly regained my strength. I have recovered pretty well and now feel good.”

James solemnly adds “while I was in quarantine for 10-days I lost people I was very close to through COVID”. James’ mentor and adoptive father since James came to Malaysia died whilst James was in quarantine. James’ pastor, Pastor Mang also died of COVID whilst James was in quarantine. Pastor Mang was also an advisor to the Alliance of Chin Refugees. James commented “the passing of both of these people will leave a big hole in the Chin refugee community in Malaysia, and personally I will miss them very much”.

“The passing of both of these people will leave a big hole in the Chin refugee community in Malaysia, and personally I will miss them very much.”

James had been vaccinated two doses of Sinovax. While the COVID-19 vaccination rate for Malaysia is very good, it is not high amongst the Chin refugee community. Whilst there are a number of factors a significant barrier is that refugees from Myanmar are anxious, they will be arrested as illegal immigrants if they attend vaccination centres and returned to Myanmar. Although the Malaysian Government has announced they will not make arrests at vaccination centres, refugees are unconvinced as during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, refugees had been arrested.

Sometimes other arrangements have been made for the refugee community to receive vaccinations. For instance, recently, an International School in Kuala Lumpur arranged for children from the Alliance of Chin Refugees school to have a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Ninety-eight children aged 12 to 17 years old were vaccinated.

Adolescents from ACR school were able to get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in October 2021.

The table below provides a comparative snapshot of COVID in Malaysia and Australia.

Malaysia Australia
Number of cases 2,551,452 191,623
Rate per 100,000 of population 7,671 678
Deaths from COVID-19 29,729 1,898
Rate per 100,000 of population 94 8.1
% of the population that has received two vaccine doses 95.4% of those aged 18+ 83.5% of those aged 16+

Data sourced on-line from:

Education sets a child up for life, give a refugee child the gift of education this Christmas.


Help us reach our goal of raising AUD $10,000 by December 25th, 2021!

Westgate Refugee Support