40 Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia were deported to Burma yesterday morning after a protest, causing uncertainty among Burmese migrant communities in the country. A Burmese employee at an electronic company in Johor state said the workers were deported because they had protested against tightening regulations on migrant workers.

The employee said the workers had sought help from the Burmese embassy in Malaysia but officials there had given them no support. Some of those who were involved in the protests, mainly Nepalese nationals, were allowed to return to work.