Training Potential Journalists To Be More Aware

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Sometimes, it’s quite surprising to see many Malaysians who aren’t in touch with the different social issues surrounding our country and society.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not blaming these Malaysians. Believe me, I understand that people have different lives, different commitments, different problems.
Recently, I brought my journalism students from the University of Wollongong Malaysia to visit a refugee community, the Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia (Cobem), in the heart of Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.
Cobem consists of six Burmese ethnic groups who have left Myanmar due to persecution.
ADSCollaborating with the NGO Dari Dapur, the project is supposed to connect the students with this marginalised community and create awareness amongst them about issues that other people face.
The immediate objective is so that the students can produce a bit more substantial journalism assignments for the class.
The event saw them watching a movie that dealt with issues involving statelessness, refugees and migrants, networking with youth from the refugee community and a discussion about stories they could explore for their videomaking assignment.
On the side, the students had the opportunity to try popular Burmese snacks and food.
Eye-opening experience
Although the students know that there are refugees in the world, they were not aware of the specific details of why these people became refugees and all the experiences that they have gone through.
This was when the students had the biggest eye-opening experience at that point of their lives.
Talking to my students after the event, they expressed how they were clueless about the experiences that these people had gone through.
They told me that one refugee’s mother had run away from Myanmar after her husband (and his father) was kidnapped and murdered by the authorities.
Another refugee told them about the experiences she faced in the detention centre. She spoke about how the detainees were mistreated and abused.
They also learned that the authorities have always refused external observers access to these detention centres to see the living conditions.
Stereotypes and sensitivities
ADSThe students also learned about the stereotypes and sensitivities about these communities. Many admitted they had negative presumptions, such as thinking these refugees could not speak English, did not have proper jobs and basically, were just uncouth.
One young man from the community spoke perfect English, with a British accent, even. In fact, his English-speaking skills are miles ahead of the students.
Another person is an entrepreneur and runs a pretty successful business. The students also learned that some of these refugees are university graduates.
My students also learned that Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which means that our country does not recognise refugees. In other words, anyone who enters Malaysia without the proper documents or visa (or overstay the allowed duration), is considered to be in the country illegally.
The law doesn’t give any concessions at all, but the refugees did admit that unofficially, the government does allow those who are registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to stay until they are given placements and relocated to another country.
However, these people are still not allowed to work legitimately or go to school because of their lack of proper documents. So, at the end of the day, they still don’t have access to basic human rights. This is unfair because they never chose to be in the position they are in.
Learning process
The students’ assignments are not done yet and are underway.
Their videos may turn out to be excellent or they may turn out to be mediocre, but it doesn’t matter because they are students and are still learning. The important thing is that they are now aware.
These refugees that the students partner up with will hopefully guide them to tell better stories that better represent their lives.
May this experience contribute to the education of these students, and they will progress into more observant, sensitive and empathetic journalists and human beings. - Mkini
ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary filmmaker, journalist and academic. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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