Without making any headlines Immigration officers in plain cloth are seen picking up illegal immigrants workers in George Town this afternoon along Chulia St. The workers were handcuffed and packed into a van parking on the road side. I happened to be passing by the area when that happened and spoke to a stun key maker and his clients, whose stall is just next to the Immigration van.

They told me that a lot more arrests have been going on in Relau where the migrant workers congregate. There are people who called it `Mini Hatyai' based on certain perception -but the name confirms the concentration of foreign occupants there. The key maker and his clients seems to be torn between sympathy for the migrant workers -some of whom are old faces working for a few stores along the street, and the sad observation of wages going down for local workers in recent years.

The Immigration officers are as young as the immigration workers they arrested: from 20-40 years old. Their faces are differentiated not so much by look (often one cannot be sure until the person open his/her mouth) but by the fierce and impatient look on the Immigration officers -contrasting with the exasperated arrestees who wear helplessness on their face.

After the Immigration officers packed the van they sped off, with many passers-by looking on what must have been daily drama. Migrant workers are treated as good help when the goings are good-and then disposed of as illegals when the goings are going the other way. There should be a better way to deal with this humanitarian conflict.

So don't be surprised to see many more arrests in town for the next weeks/months.