Living among the dead: Myanmar nationals living in makeshift camps at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery

Myanmar nationals, who claim to have been duped by agents back home, squat in cemetery

One of the makeshift homes in Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. The worker in the foreground, who has been in Singapore for six months, claims to have been promised a job here but ended up being cheated of about $2,000. Myanmar nationals squatting at the cemet
One of the makeshift homes in Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. The worker in the foreground, who has been in Singapore for six months, claims to have been promised a job here but ended up being cheated of about $2,000. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
One of the makeshift homes in Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. The worker in the foreground, who has been in Singapore for six months, claims to have been promised a job here but ended up being cheated of about $2,000. Myanmar nationals squatting at the cemet
Myanmar nationals squatting at the cemetery also work as gardeners or contractors there. When the Sunday Times reporter asked if they had valid work permits, one of them smiled and shook his head. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Calvin Yang
Correspondent
Updated
Mar 03, 2019, 08:51 AM
Published
Mar 03, 2019, 05:00 AM
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They have been living among the dead for months now.

Their home? Crude tarpaulin shelters - furnished with straw mats, plastic chairs and electric fans - hidden behind treelines deep inside Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on March 03, 2019, with the headline Living among the dead: Myanmar nationals living in makeshift camps at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. Subscribe

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