Widely known and reported, but unfortunately I had a personal run-in with some immigration police when I (unbeknownst to me) breached a regulation: I changed my passport so had to transfer my visa to the new one, NO ONE told me I couldn't go out of the country until I did that and I had a business trip coming up which I went ahead with. When I came back to Malaysia they sent me to immigration where the officers proceeded to harangue and threaten me with deportation for about 10-15 minutes, repeatedly asking me why I had done this and if I wanted to ruin my life and be kicked out of the country, either to put the fear of God in me, or out of pure sadism. I was bewildered. I never experienced such helplessness in the face of power before. All I could do was listen and be extra contrite in the hopes they would show mercy. I understood there how dangerous it was to have ignorant and uneducated people in positions of authority. And also how unprotected I was.
I had this awareness also when I was living in Dubai, where the slightest transgression will get you deported.
It gave me a new appreciation of countries whose civil servants, police etc, may not be perfect, but are not beyond reproach and where you know exactly what your rights are.
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“Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle.
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