Hotel brings festive joy and cheer to Myanmar Chin refugees

[ZIRC]

HOTEL ARMADA Petaling Jaya paid a visit to a community of Myanmar Chin refugees who are currently living at a rundown flat in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

The visit from the hotel’s staff was to shed some “festive light” while spreading Christmas cheer and joy to the refugees who have to live on the margins of society most of the time.

With the majority of the Myanmar Chins being Christians, it is also an early Christmas celebration for them.

Having left Myanmar to flee persecution, the Myanmar Chin refugees have found an uneasy transit point here in Malaysia. (Sharing joy: Hotel Armada employees posing with the refugees).

Sharing joy: Hotel Armada employees posing with the refugees.

Travelling discreetly across Thailand’s forests and borders, risking their lives to get to a place where they can call “sanctuary”.

Originally from a small state called Chin in Myanmar where the majority of the population are Christians, they have run for their lives from forced labour, military rape and torture, religious persecution, and other severe human rights violations.

Being refugees, the majority of them do not have proper documentations to apply for a proper job.

With what minimal income they can bring in, they are forced to share a one-unit low-cost flat with a minimum of three families.

To help enlighten their burden, Hotel Armada Petaling Jaya donated in bulk basic necessities such as rice, instant noodles, biscuits and cooking oil.

Food aid: Hotel staff with the donations rice and food items for the Myanmar refugees.

Apart from presenting the food donation, the visit was also aimed at showing care and support to the refugees and to remind them that they too were cherished and respected in the spirit of Christmas.

The refugees received the donated goods from the hotel’s general manager Hoon Tai Chee, heads of departments and personnel.

A volunteer who looks after the Myanmar community in Cheras — Vincent Chen from the Church of St. Francis of Assi — was put in charge of distributing the rest of the donation among other refugee communities in the area. http://thestar.com.my