{"id":6491,"date":"2026-06-27T05:53:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T05:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=6491"},"modified":"2026-06-27T06:10:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T06:10:35","slug":"reflections-on-world-migrant-day-3m-migrants-memory-and-mercy-and-the-4th-r-the-rohingya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2026\/06\/27\/reflections-on-world-migrant-day-3m-migrants-memory-and-mercy-and-the-4th-r-the-rohingya\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on World Migrant Day: 3M \u2014 Migrants, Memory, and Mercy \u2014 and the 4th R, The Rohingya"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today, as my old post resurfaced in my FB memories,<\/strong> I was struck by the coincidence: World Migrant Day<\/strong>, and what I personally call the \u201cReligious Migrant Day\u201d \u2014 Ashura,<\/strong> yesterday. A day that recalls Adam\u2019s exile to earth, Prophet Noah\u2019s ship finding land, and Moses leading his people across the sea. Migration, whether forced or chosen, has always been part of human destiny.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Malaysia today, migrants remain unrecognized under international law, as the country has not signed the UN Charter covenant on the Rights of Migrants. Refugees, especially Rohingyas, face hostility online, raids, arrests, imprisonment, and deportation. Yet history reminds us that migration is not alien to this land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malay Refugees in Myanmar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the wars between the Malay Sultanates and Thailand, and later during the Second World War, countless Malay refugees crossed into Myanmar.<\/strong> When British troops withdrew from Singapore and Malaya by land route through Burma to India, many Malayan forced laborers fled as well \u2014 some ending up in Myanmar, even working on the infamous \u201cDeath Railway.\u201d These communities, known as the Pashus or Myanmar Malay Muslims,<\/strong> remain part of Myanmar\u2019s social fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Migration as a Cycle of History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Today, Malaysia hosts large numbers of refugees and migrants. But who can say what the future holds? If, centuries from now,<\/strong> disaster, war, or rising seas force Malaysians or Singaporeans to flee, I pray that Myanmar\u2019s people \u2014 including my descendants \u2014 will not seek revenge, but instead respond with metta<\/strong>, loving-kindness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This spirit was beautifully expressed by the wise minister Ananda Thuriya<\/em>, who, facing execution under King Narapatisithu, composed a timeless poem of forgiveness. <\/strong>His words echo across cultures and faiths, comparable to Jesus Christ\u2019s prayer on the cross: \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Law of Nature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ananda Thuriya\u2019s \u201cLaw of Nature\u201d<\/strong> (written in the linka<\/strong> form) is considered the first known Burmese vernacular poem, blending literature with monarchical criticism. Though later versions may have been updated in the 14th century, its essence remains a classic of Burmese civilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a brief excerpt from R.F. St. Andrew St. John\u2019s translation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cYes, he is one who, wealth attained, Shall pass away and disappear; \u2019Tis Nature\u2019s Law. \u2026 Thee, gentle lord, I blameless hold, Freely to thee, I pardon give, \u2019Tis not thy deed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This noble acceptance of impermanence, coupled with forgiveness, is a lesson for all who suffer displacement. Migration is not only about borders and laws; it is about humanity, compassion, and the refusal to perpetuate cycles of vengeance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cFourth R\u201d: A Silent Burden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Malaysia, public discourse often warns against touching the \u201c3Rs\u201d \u2014 race, religion, and royalty \u2014 subjects so sensitive that even a whisper can invite scrutiny. Yet, in the shadows, there exists a \u201cFourth R,\u201d unspoken but ever-present: Rohingyas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the protected sanctity of the 3Rs, the Fourth R has become a punching bag. Anyone may strike, mock, or spit without consequence. Rohingyas, already stripped of legal recognition, are burdened with stigma, scapegoated for social ills, and denied the dignity of belonging. Their suffering is diluted, dismissed, and too often ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This metaphor carries an added cultural resonance. In Chinese tradition, the number four is shunned, avoided in house numbers and floor labels because it echoes the sound of death (sei<\/em> in Cantonese, si<\/em> in Mandarin). In Malaysia\u2019s public discourse, the Rohingyas have become a similar \u201cFourth R\u201d \u2014 unlucky, unwanted, and burdened with stigma. Yet superstition should remind us of impermanence, not justify exclusion. What is feared today may tomorrow be the source of compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This reflection is not meant as provocation, but as a reminder. Societies reveal their moral compass not by how they treat the powerful, but by how they treat the powerless. If Malaysia is to soften its stance in the years ahead, it must begin by acknowledging this Fourth R not as a target, but as a test of compassion. For in the cycles of migration, today\u2019s scapegoats may tomorrow be the ones offering refuge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u1014\u1014\u1039\u1010\u101e\u1030\u101b\u102d\u101a(\u1044\u1047\u1044 \u1001\u1014\u1037\u103a – \u1045\u1043\u1045)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“‘\u101e\u1030\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1038\u1010\u1005\u103a\u101a\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u104a \u1000\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1018\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101b\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1019\u1030\u104a \u101e\u1030\u1010\u1005\u103a\u101a\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1019\u103e\u102c\u104a \u1015\u103b\u1000\u103a\u101c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1000\u102c\u101e\u102c\u104a \u1013\u1019\u1039\u1019\u1010\u102c\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1038”‘<\/strong> \u101f\u102f \u1021\u1005\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101e\u1031\u102c \u1021\u1019\u103b\u1000\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1031\u101c\u1004\u103a\u1039\u1000\u102c \u101c\u1031\u1038\u1015\u102f\u1012\u103a\u1000\u102d\u102f \u101e\u1010\u103a\u1021\u1036\u1037\u1019\u1030\u1038\u1019\u1030\u1038\u1010\u103d\u1004\u103a \u101b\u1032\u101b\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1000\u103c\u100a\u103a\u101e\u1031\u102c \u1014\u103e\u101c\u102f\u1036\u1038\u101e\u102c\u1038\u1016\u103c\u1004\u1037\u103a \u101b\u1031\u1038\u101e\u102c\u1038\u1014\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1005\u103d\u1019\u103a\u1038\u101e\u100a\u1037\u103a \u1021\u1019\u1010\u103a\u1000\u103c\u102e\u1038\u101f\u1030\u104d \u1019\u103c\u1014\u103a\u1019\u102c\u1005\u102c\u1015\u1031\u101e\u1019\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1010\u103d\u1004\u103a \u1021\u1011\u1030\u1038\u1011\u1004\u103a\u101b\u103e\u102c\u1038 \u1000\u103b\u1031\u102c\u103a\u1005\u1031\u102c\u101c\u103b\u1000\u103a\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101e\u1030\u1019\u103e\u102c \u1021\u1014\u1014\u1039\u1010\u101e\u1030\u101b\u102d\u101a \u1021\u1019\u1010\u103a\u1015\u1004\u103a \u1016\u103c\u1005\u103a\u101e\u100a\u103a\u104b <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u1014\u1014\u1039\u1010\u101e\u1030\u101b\u102d\u101a\u1021\u1019\u1010\u103a\u101e\u100a\u103a \u1010\u102f\u1014\u103a\u101c\u103e\u102f\u1015\u103a\u1011\u102d\u1010\u103a\u101c\u1014\u1037\u103a\u1001\u103c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1016\u103c\u1005\u103a\u1014\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u101b\u1021\u1036\u1037\u101c\u1031\u102c\u104a \u1019\u1016\u103c\u1005\u103a\u1014\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u104b \u1011\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1000\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u101b\u1032\u101b\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1000\u103c\u100a\u103a\u101e\u1031\u102c\u1005\u102d\u1010\u103a\u1011\u102c\u1038\u1014\u103e\u1004\u1037\u103a \u1010\u101b\u102c\u1038\u1015\u103c\u100a\u1037\u103a\u101d\u1005\u103d\u102c\u1015\u1004\u103a\u101c\u103b\u103e\u1004\u103a \u101e\u1030\u1010\u101a\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1038\u104a \u1000\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1018\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101b\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1019\u1030 \u1021\u1005\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101e\u1031\u102c\u1021\u1019\u103b\u1000\u103a \u1016\u103c\u1031\u101c\u1004\u103a\u1039\u1000\u102c\u101c\u1031\u1038\u1015\u102d\u102f\u1012\u103a\u1000\u102d\u102f\u101c\u100a\u103a\u1038 \u101e\u1010\u103a\u1021\u1036\u1037\u1006\u1032\u1006\u1032\u1010\u103d\u1004\u103a \u101b\u1032\u101b\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1000\u103c\u100a\u103a\u101e\u1031\u102c \u1014\u103e\u101c\u102f\u1036\u1038\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101e\u100a\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1005\u103a\u104d \u1019\u100a\u103a\u101e\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1019\u103b\u103e \u1010\u102f\u1014\u103a\u101c\u103e\u102f\u1015\u103a\u1011\u102d\u1010\u103a\u101c\u1014\u1037\u103a\u1001\u103c\u1004\u103a\u1038 \u1019\u101b\u103e\u102d\u1015\u1032 \u1019\u101e\u1031\u1019\u102e \u1021\u1019\u103b\u1000\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1031\u101c\u1004\u103a\u1039\u1000\u102c\u101c\u1031\u1038\u1015\u102d\u102f\u1012\u103a\u1000\u102d\u102f \u1021\u1031\u1038\u1006\u1031\u1038\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1004\u103c\u102d\u1019\u103a\u1005\u1015\u103a\u1006\u102d\u102f\u104d \u1019\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1000\u103c\u102e\u1038\u1021\u102c\u1038 \u1006\u1000\u103a\u1015\u102b\u101f\u102f \u1021\u1015\u103a\u1001\u1032\u1037\u104f\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u101e\u1030\u101e\u1010\u103a\u1010\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101c\u100a\u103a\u1038 \u101e\u1010\u103a\u1015\u103c\u102e\u1038\u1019\u103e \u1005\u102c\u1000\u102d\u102f \u1006\u1000\u103a\u104f\u104b \u101c\u1004\u103a\u1039\u1000\u102c\u101c\u1031\u1038\u1015\u102d\u102f\u1012\u103a\u1000\u102c\u1038<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1041\u104a \u101e\u1030\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1038\u1010\u1005\u103a\u101a\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u104a \u1000\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1018\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101b\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1019\u1030\u104a \u1010\u1005\u103a\u101a\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u101e\u1030\u1019\u103e\u102c\u104a \u1015\u103b\u1000\u103a\u101c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1000\u102c\u101e\u102c\u2212\u1013\u1019\u1039\u1019\u1010\u102c\u1010\u100a\u1037\u103a\u104b<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\u1042\u104a \u101b\u103d\u103e\u1031\u1021\u102d\u1019\u103a\u1014\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1014\u103e\u1004\u1037\u103a\u104a \u1000\u103c\u1004\u103e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u101c\u100a\u103a\u1038\u1001\u1036\u104a \u1019\u1010\u103a\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1004\u103a\u1038\u101b\u1036\u101c\u103b\u1000\u103a\u104a \u1015\u103b\u1031\u102c\u103a\u1005\u1036\u101b\u102d\u1015\u103a\u1004\u103c\u102d\u1019\u103a\u104a \u1005\u100a\u103a\u1038\u1005\u102d\u1019\u103a\u1019\u1000\u103d\u102c\u104a \u1019\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1001\u103b\u1019\u103a\u1038\u101e\u102c\u1000\u102c\u1038\u104a \u101e\u1019\u102f\u1012\u1039\u1012\u101b\u102c\u104a \u101b\u1031\u1019\u103b\u1000\u103a\u1014\u103e\u102c\u1011\u1000\u103a\u104a \u1001\u100f\u1010\u1000\u103a\u101e\u100a\u103a .... \u101b\u1031\u1015\u103c\u103d\u1000\u103a\u1015\u1019\u102c\u2212\u1010\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101c\u103b\u102c\u1010\u100a\u1037\u103a\u104b<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\n
[\u1021\u1001\u103b\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1019\u1030\u1019\u103e\u102c \u2013 \u101b\u103d\u103e\u1031\u1021\u102d\u1019\u103a\u1014\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1014\u103e\u1004\u1037\u103a\u104a \u1000\u103c\u1004\u103e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1010\u1000\u103a\u101e\u100a\u103a\u104a \u101b\u1031\u1015\u103c\u103d\u1000\u103a\u1015\u1019\u102c-\u1010\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101c\u103b\u102c\u1010\u100a\u1037\u103a\u101f\u1030\u104d\u1010\u102d\u102f\u1010\u102d\u102f\u101e\u102c\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101e\u100a\u103a\u104b]<\/small><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u1043\u104a \u1000\u103c\u1004\u103a\u1014\u102c\u101e\u1014\u102c\u1038\u104a \u1004\u102b\u1037\u1021\u102c\u1038\u1019\u101e\u1010\u103a\u104a \u101a\u1001\u102f\u101c\u103d\u103e\u1010\u103a\u101c\u100a\u103a\u1038\u104a \u1021\u101c\u103d\u1010\u103a\u1000\u103c\u1019\u1039\u1019\u102c\u104a \u101c\u1030\u1010\u1000\u102c\u1010\u102d\u102f\u1037\u104a \u1001\u1014\u1039\u1013\u102c\u1001\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1000\u103b\u100a\u103a\u104a \u1021\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1019\u1019\u103c\u1032\u104a \u1016\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u101c\u103d\u1032\u1010\u1010\u103a\u101e\u100a\u103a .... \u1019\u1001\u103b\u103d\u1010\u103a\u1005\u101e\u102c\u2212\u101e\u1010\u1039\u1010\u101d\u102b\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1038\u104b<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\n
[\u1021\u1001\u103b\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1019\u1030\u1019\u103e\u102c \u2013 \u1000\u103c\u1004\u103a\u1014\u102c\u101e\u1014\u102c\u1038\u104a \u1004\u102b\u1037\u1021\u102c\u1038\u1019\u101e\u1010\u103a\u104a \u101a\u1001\u102f\u101c\u103d\u103e\u1010\u103a\u101c\u100a\u103a\u1038\u104a \u1019\u101c\u103d\u1010\u103a\u1015\u1031\u101b\u102c\u104a * \u1021\u1014\u102d\u1005\u1039\u1005\u102c\u1010\u100a\u103a\u1038-\u101f\u1030\u104d\u1010\u102d\u102f\u1010\u102d\u102f\u101e\u102c\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101e\u100a\u103a\u104b]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u1044\u104a \u101b\u103e\u102d\u1001\u102d\u102f\u1038\u1000\u1031\u102c\u103a\u101b\u1031\u102c\u103a\u104a \u1015\u1030\u1007\u1031\u102c\u103a\u1021\u1000\u103b\u103d\u1014\u103a\u104a \u1015\u1014\u103a\u1001\u1032\u1037\u1010\u102f\u1036\u104f\u104a \u1001\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1000\u103c\u102f\u1036 \u101d\u102d\u1015\u102b\u1000\u103a\u104a \u101e\u1036\u101e\u102c\u1005\u1000\u103a\u104c\u104a \u1000\u103c\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u101c\u1010\u103a\u1010\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1019\u1030\u104a \u1010\u102f\u1036\u1037\u1019\u101a\u1030\u101c\u102d\u102f\u104a \u1000\u103c\u100a\u103a\u100a\u102d\u102f\u1005\u102d\u1010\u103a\u101e\u1014\u103a\u104a \u101e\u1001\u1004\u103a\u1019\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1000\u102d\u102f \u1001\u103b\u1014\u103a\u1018\u102d\u1005\u1004\u103a\u1005\u1005\u103a\u104a \u1021\u1015\u103c\u1005\u103a\u1019\u1032\u1037\u101b\u1031\u1038\u104a \u1001\u103d\u1004\u1037\u103a\u101c\u103b\u103e\u1004\u103a\u1015\u1031\u1038\u104f\u104a \u101e\u103d\u1031\u1038\u101e\u100a\u103a\u1021\u1014\u102d\u1005\u1039\u1005\u102c\u104a \u1004\u102b\u1037\u1001\u1014\u1039\u1013\u102c\u1010\u100a\u1037\u103a\u104b  <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Read also:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Report: Flooded Future: Global vulnerability to sea level rise worse than previously understood<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today, as my old post resurfaced in my FB memories, I was struck by the coincidence: World Migrant Day, and what I personally call the \u201cReligious Migrant Day\u201d \u2014 Ashura, yesterday. A day that recalls Adam\u2019s exile to earth, Prophet Noah\u2019s ship finding land, and Moses leading his people across the sea. Migration, whether forced […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6492,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,7,6,133,2,127,1,130,11,10,16,27,131,123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anti-racism","category-articles","category-history","category-human-rights-constitution-federal-democracy-social-nets-minority-rights","category-international-news","category-islam-hope-allah-swt","category-local-news","category-motivation","category-myanmar-muslims-history","category-news","category-opinion","category-poem","category-quran","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6491"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6497,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6491\/revisions\/6497"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}