Despite this, Nasir, who now works two jobs a day in the heart of the city, still believes in Malaysia as a land of opportunity filled with nice people.
A general worker, Nasir has been in Malaysia for nine years. Speaking to FMT, the 32-year old Bangladesh national, says his new employer treats him well, inviting him to their village whenever there is a kenduri.
“I like Malaysia because it is easy to earn a living, if people are not lazy they can definitely find work,” he said adding, he would choose to work every day, taking a day off only when he was too tired.
V Thangarasu from Chennai, a barber, says his 13 years in Malaysia has been good, attributing this to his generous boss who owns the Stylo Barbershop in Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock.
“I get to go back to see my wife and two kids every year and my boss pays for the flights of all his staff,” said the 45-year old, adding that his employer also paid for the rent and food for the staff.
His employer is not the only generous Malaysian though as kind-hearted customers would also give the barbers at the shop tips and ang pows for Chinese New Year.
For Myanmar national Aung Hlaing Win, life in Malaysia has become tougher over the years because of the rising cost of living: it is likely that he will go home once his visa expires.
After nine years of working in a pet shop in the city, Aung, who is in his 30s, says he wants to return to his village in Myanmar.
He said his life here in Malaysia is routine, going to work in the morning and spending his nights at home on Facebook, as it is too expensive to go out for entertainment or to eat.
In the case of Mohd Yusuf who works in retail, the nice people he’s met over the past nine years had made life in Malaysia good.
“I have many Malaysian friends from all races and thankfully, wherever I’ve worked the people have been good to me.”
Yusuf may be newly married, but he admits to have fallen in love with Malay food, specifically *nasi goreng kampung, *a dish he has learned to cook during a stint in a restaurant.
The man from Comilla in Bangladesh, believes Malaysian food will be well received in Bangladesh and if he had the money, he would not rule out opening a Malaysian restaurant back home.