The politics of immigration policy in Malaysia: What is behind the foreign worker’s administration?

Mohd Na'eim Ajis, Mohd Ramlan Mohd Arshad, Aizat Khairi

Article ID: 5345
Vol 8, Issue 7, 2024

VIEWS - 1125 (Abstract)

Abstract


The formation and implementation of migration policy cannot avoid being influenced by political elements, particularly political actors who have a direct or indirect interest in migration issues. Previous studies show that the influence on the administration and migration policy of a country has created the concept of ‘client politics’, that is, employers have a certain influence on the administration of foreign workers, especially in western countries. This situation has also created two groups which are pro-migrants consisting of employers, fundamental rights groups and trade unions; and anti-migrants are often associated with bureaucrats, nationalists and others. This study has used qualitative methods and has interviewed the informants consisting of government agencies, academics, employers, trade unions and NGOs. The results of the study show that those actors have a certain influence on the management of foreign workers including in the aspects of policy making and implementation. The concept of ‘client politics’ is seen to only apply to certain sectors, especially the manufacturing sector. Therefore, practically in Malaysia it is considered as ‘sectoral client politics’. In conclusion, the influence of both groups is not pursuing the interests of the country but rather on the interests of their respective sectors and entities.


Keywords


policy; state actor; client politics; migrant worker; Malaysia

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i7.5345

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