Vietnamese in Malaysia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Vietnamese migrant workers are an important component of Peninsular Malaysia's foreign workforce. Partly as a security measure related to terrorism dangers, the Malaysian government determined early in 2002 that recruitment of foreign workers would be carried out on a Government-to-Government basis. At that time the foreign workforce was listed at around 800,000 with only a handful being from Vietnam.

Since then, a number of MOU's (Memorandum of Understanding) have been signed or are still being negotiated with several countries including Vietnam. The MOU with Vietnam was one of the first to be negotiated and since its signing, the number of Vietnamese workers has grown rapidly. The agreement allows up to 200,000 Vietnamese workers to come to Malaysia each year. Although the broad terms of the agreement allow these workers to stay up to five years with possible extensions of an additional five years for those deemed as being "experienced" in areas of more acute needs, most are coming on two or three year contracts. The Vietnamese government grants licenses to labor-export companies to recruit and train these workers. The manufacturing and construction sectors in Malaysia already are using many such workers. Although the numbers are quite dynamic, a 2003 estimate for Vietnamese (mostly Kinh) foreign workers was 80,000.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For many of these workers, their living conditions are dependent on their employers. Large employers in all sectors provide housing and transportation in fulfillment of some of the requirements under the government agreements. Even so, housing is often crowded and lack sufficient basic amenities. Working conditions can include long hours and be physically demanding. Isolation in their job site or living quarters sometimes occurs. Separation from families back in their home country is a hardship facing all foreign workers whether unskilled or professionals.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kinh of Vietnam are the majority people group in Vietnam and the group from which most of these workers in Malaysia came from. They have a mixed religion that includes Buddhism as well as ancestor worship and animism. Urban dwellers may be influenced more by Buddhism while rural dwellers may be more influenced by ancestor worship and animism. The migrant workers probably reflect the same influences depending on their background.


What Are Their Needs?

Foreign workers need good access to all the normal social services plus some specialized services related to their separation from families and their isolation in a foreign culture. Since most of the Vietnamese work in larger companies with high visibility, they may be less likely to be unfairly exploited than some of the other migrant worker groups.

Malaysian believers and some faith-based organizations have already found ways of ministering to the needs of these immigrant workers through English and other classes, legal assistance and supporting activities. These efforts are not only aiding the workers, but are broadening the vision of the Malaysian family of God to new opportunities.

Their greatest need is for the Good News. Pray that these workers will hear and respond to the Truth while they are in Malaysia.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Vietnamese in Malaysia.


Profile Source:   Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Vietnamese
People Name in Country Vietnamese
Pronunciation vee-et-nahm-EEZ
Alternate Names Annamese; Annanese; Ching; Cing; Gin; Jhing; King; Kinh; Kinh (Việt); Viet
Population this Country 108,000
Population all Countries 86,819,000
Total Countries 36
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 12700
ROP3 Code 105018
ROP25 Code 304033
ROP25 Name Vietnamese (Kinh)
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 49  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Peninsular Malaysia   Source:  Joshua Project
Country Malaysia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 49  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Peninsular Malaysia.   Source:  Joshua Project
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
52.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.20 %)
8.00 %
Ethnic Religions
9.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
25.00 %
Other / Small
6.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Vietnamese (108,000 speakers)
Language Code vie   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Vietnamese (108,000 speakers)
Language Code vie   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Vietnamese

Primary Language:  Vietnamese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1890-1989)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1914-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1916-2020)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Vietnamese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Dragon Images - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK   Copyrighted ©   Used with permission
Profile Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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