The Everyday Law and Life of Indian ‘Expatriates’ in Malaysia
摘要
In 2020, 150,000 Indian nationals were working in key industries and economic sectors in Malaysia. Indian human capital is particularly vulnerable to changing governmental policies and regulations, regional geopolitics, bilateral trade agreements, and diplomatic relations between Malaysia and India. This chapter offers the story of ‘everyday law’ in the ‘everyday life’ of Indian nationals, i.e., the legal and policy-led challenges from Malaysian state authorities (such as immigration and police), and how this is experienced on the ground with authority and locals in their everyday life. These extend to include support (or lack thereof) for the family, for example, children’s education and formal or informal on-boarding support experience. We draw from everyday experiences in terms of the culture and dealing with the locals, everyday consumption experiences such as food to pleasurable consumption experiences such as travel, clubs, and support networks. The chapter focuses on the Indian ‘expatriates’ or highly skilled migrants in significant key industries—(higher education, information technology, media and communication, finance and banking)—who are living and working in the Klang Valley urban area and other urban areas in Peninsular Malaysia.