I used to live in bulao pidong back in 1987. Thanks to Malaysia government for letting our Vietnamese boat people rest here after Vietnam war. As a young child left Vietnam for a better life. Now i live in the USA but my heart never forget Bulao Pidong an island of Malaysia. Thanks so much to Malaysian government.
Hi R.AGE! I was a minor at Bidong back then, and I’ve been back and forth to Bidong numerous times for nearly consecutive 10 years but never I heard anyone called Bidong as a “Hell Island “. Totally agree with you about the harsh living conditions back then but not up near to the point that we would have lacked of food and water supplies daily. Nor haven’t had anyone died from starvation yet? So excuse the term “barely livable “! Yet, majority of people were there for the same reason of seeking a FREEDOM, not for the economic comfort, and they better all knew that Bidong was just a transitional temporary place prior to their new horizon in the third world countries. Last but least they all went through either horrible lethally piracy, tremendous oceanic typhoons, deadly starvation, lost of direction etc on their escapes, and such those things could have took their life away unremorsefully and irreversibly. Such and such, death or discomforting ? Which one is more superior and significant? You choose it! On top of that, Bidong was still in a better condition than many refugee camps (Songkhla, Sikew, Panatikhom, etc) in Thailand in terms of water and food supplies, living environment, UHNCR services, etc you name them all! I just wonder myself that for those who unhappily complained about the harsh living conditions in Bidong’s why did you not stay on a porch at where you were originally from so you could enjoy all the comforts? Why bothered to risk your life just to “exchange “ for a worse living condition in Bidong? R.AGE, You guys are as movie makers and to especially document the history of Bidong’s , you must do better supportive researches to depict truly about Bidong, instead of listening to only few negative comments of ungrateful bidongers and hastily named Bidong as a HELL Island. That was profusely not correct, not right, and not kind to Bidong Island itself, to many Bidongers, to the UHNCR , to MRC, and to the government of Malaysia! Shall it be more appropriate to name Bidong as the "HOPE ISLAND"; The Island of Survival, The Island of Hope, The Island of Freedom. Your considerateness! P/s: per your statement Bidong was given a nickname as “Hell Island “, may you kindly direct me to that reference please!
@Lambert John hello John. Thanks tremendously to you and your school and many other associations to put in enormous helps to us, the Vietnamese Boat people, back then. We owe your country a gratitude. Have a great day and hope seeing you somehow in Malaysia because my group go visiting Bidong yearly.
Well said. I was a 5 years old when we were at Bidong in 1978. All i remembered from time in the island was how beautiful it was running along the shoreline with the packs of moving fishes . We were fed and we had a safe place to sleep . I remembered seeing a massive cross of Jesus Christ in a church. I remember going up the mountains with my younger brother that was 3 at that time. Fond memories. Im a USA citizen now, 47 years old and America is the greatest country in the world.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤❤❤❤❤
im malaysian,some of malaysian bloggers tell stories about this island and the refugees, mostly they said it is tragic ,loss for malaysian and such a waste of time to help the vietnam refugees in that island. But after i watch this docmentary and the comments,i felt its not a great loss for us, because we/our malaysia country had given people hope and second chance of lives to unfortunate people.It is made us a better country with humanity and good to others.
R.AGE then you better change the title of it! Bidong is the Island of Hope! We, the Vietnamese Boat People truly appreciate the help of Malaysia country tremendously, and we will never forget our lovely memorial island, BIDONG!
@@rageonlinetv Yes, we all are grateful for the Malaysian government. I was a minor in October 1982 when I arrived there with my relatives. I hope to be able to go visit Bidong soon, after the pandemic. I think we stay there for a few months, then transferred to another place for a few months where we have to buy pork by throwing coins/gold wrapped in newspapers over a wall, then someone would throw a piece of pork back over. I think that place is called Singa B.C.? Then we left to Philippine Refugee Processing Center (PRPC) and stay there for almost 1yr.
It is also worth noting According to Wikipedia, "The United Nations convened an international conference in Geneva, Switzerland in July 1979, stating that "a grave crisis exists in Southeast Asia for hundreds of thousands of refugees". Illustrating the prominence of the issue, Vice President Walter Mondale headed the U.S. delegation. The results of the conference were that the Southeast Asian countries agreed to provide temporary asylum to the refugees, Vietnam agreed to promote orderly departures rather than permit boat people to depart, and the Western countries agreed to accelerate resettlement. The Orderly Departure Program enabled Vietnamese, if approved, to depart Vietnam for resettlement in another country without having to become a boat person.[16] As a result of the conference, boat people departures from Vietnam declined to a few thousand per month and resettlements increased from 9,000 per month in early 1979 to 25,000 per month, the majority of the Vietnamese going to the United States, France, Australia,[17] and Canada. The worst of the humanitarian crisis was over, although boat people would continue to leave Vietnam for more than another decade and die at sea or be confined to lengthy stays in refugee camps.
We came to Pulau Bidong in 1989 - 1991. Best time of my life, we were free, survived the sea and was just thankful to God to be alive. We were so innocent, didn't know how BIG the SEA was and came close to death. - MC 476 -
Totally agree with you bro. It was such a miracle that we survived and made to that Island. It is still always so beautiful every time I think about those days I lived at(on) Pulau Bidong. MC:342
I was born in Pulau Bidong of 1988. I hear stories from my parents naturally and met other people over time who was present during that time but none said it was as you claim as “Hell Island”. You stated you asked ONE worker’s perspective/opinion but you brushed off everyone else’s opinion. Why? I like the video, thank you for it but I think you should change the title as none of survivors to this day call it “Hell’s island”
I was to one of the family came to this island back 79 wow they bring back so much memories and I will never forget it. My family and I was very lucky to escape Vietnam and stranded on the ocean for weeks before we have arrive to the Island
That time even many Malaysians living at rural and village live in small wooden house, some people just don't understand time make the difference 30 years ago and now. Besides, it was temporary anyway. Honestly many were grateful for malaysian goverment to open an island for refugee.
It wasn't a "Hell Island". It was paradise on earth for those who reached it. It means you have an opportunity to migrate into a land of opportunity. I truly believe the mass migrations of Chinese and Vietnamese as part of the "boat people" has transformed the entire world. Many of the Asians including me has positively affected the countries that we moved to. The first generation of the boat people suffered because they were usually older and had a harder time integrating with western society. However, the second and third generations has become doctors, engineers, scientists and so on. If you take a look at the Asian population in Southern California, Canada, Australia and many other places, you will understand that it has made a huge impact on the areas where the immigrants settled. Often the property values has sky rocketed and created enormous wealth. We arrived to Malaysia in 1978 before Bidong was ready to receive immigrants. When we landed in the shore at night, the men took axes and cut the ship into pieces so they police won't push the boats back. When the police arrived in the morning, they had guns pointed to us and we were scared. However, they realized the ship was sunk and can't be pushed back so they moved us to the refugee camp. In that time, the immigrants who were moved to Bidong lived in an area across from the Merang Jetty called "Pulau Besar" for about a year. We still have many fond memories of that place. I recall the Malaysian people were very nice. The men would swim across the river to the other side and trade with the locals for chickens and other food items. We had to build out own hut out of sticks and coconut leaves. It was like living in a old village. I recall as kids, we went fishing, swimming and it was like a vacation. People were making swings and swinging across the river with ropes. Going to the bathroom was an experience. It was a hole on the ground with a wood plank over it and boy did it smelled bad. Many people go to the local bush area to do their thing. If you walk across that field, you have to avoid those "land mines" that people drop everyday. When you step on a fresh one, it was not pleasant. There was no toilet paper, so you have to learn how to use a stick to scrape it off. It was definitely interesting for someone who grew up in a big city. Every day, we would see new people such as friends and relatives escaping. We also heard of many tragic stories about people who didn't make it. Many of the adults including our parents were helping to set up Bidong Island for future refugees. The later refugees after 1979 to 1980s were then moved to Bidong Island. Pulau Besar was heaven on earth at that time. We were later transferred to Kula Lumpur refugee camp after a year in Pulau Besar. It was one of the first time we actually had bread with butter or margarine. I still remember that to this day. They housed us in this big bunk bed area. There was a church on top with a big Jesus statue on a cross. As kids, we would always wonder why they put a bleeding guy on top of a pole for all to see. Back in those days, we didn't have TVs. However, there was a family of Malaysians that lived near the edge of the camp. They would open up the window and watch TV and all the kids would be up to the fence peeking in and watching TV shows. They were watching the incredible Hulk and 6 million dollar man. All the kids would pretend we were hulk or make the noise when the six million dollar man uses his strength. I still remember the grandmother kept saying "Ba Ji No Good!" Apparently Ba Ji was the name of the little kid and when he does something wrong, the grandmother would say it. After that, all the kids in the refugee camp kept saying "Ba Ji No Good!". I hope Ba Ji sees this post and remembers it.
I think its an embarrassment for you to label the island as "Hell Island". Its one of the few places were people literally transformed an uninhabited island into a thriving community with churches, temples, barber shops, and so on. You hardly ever see this type of cohesiveness with everyone sharing similar stories of survival to reach that point. We escaped from the Hell that was in Vietnam to come to a place that was full of promises and opportunities. You will never understand that because you weren't there.
Yeah, it wasn't hell for me in 1979. It was fun as a 9 yr old kid with his grandpa. We had food, a dry place to sleep (although on plywoods), but better than dying at sea. I think it was heaven, not hell. My days were spent exploring the island, ocean, beach, waterfalls, etc. I only stayed a few months, like 5-6, then flew to Los Angeles, & eventually to Pittsburgh to begin my new life.
Cảm on cái video của bạn đã để lên đây, nơi đây thật quá nhiều kỷ ức, mình ở đây nam 85 đen 87 , mình rất muốn trở về nơi đây, bạn ơi cho mình biết làm sao để vào lại nơi đây ha ban?
Hi, thank you for the video well made, I was 9 when we set foot on the island Nov 1978 until May 1979. For sure the short documentary cannot encapsulate everything, most of the stories are legit, our boat was raided by Thailand fisherman, luckily they did not have the time to finish us as a big cargo shown up, the cargo saw us but continue their route. On the island I saw ladies who went crazy/mad because they were rape, I could not understand rape was but I knew something really bad happened to those ladies, I heard stories where the pirates tied the man and throw them to the ocean. Those who think this island is not hell, maybe they got to the island much later where all the infrastructure were built and the supply chain was well established, so those people who don't think it is hell island, have some compassion for those who saw it as hell. For sure the living condition is horrendous, I was always hungry, we only drink water that was boiled, I slept on tree branches so free massage. Everyday I saw coffins passed by as we lived close to the infirmary. Me and my sister waited in turn all day long to get to the water well. Our ration was only sardine, rice, bean, it took years before I can eat sardine again. As a 9 years old, I fear of death for myself and my family, if you get diarrhea it is almost like a death sentence. Everyday around 18h, we listened on the BBC shortwave for a very short update in Vietnamese from the BBC, one of the neighbors managed to salvage the radio. I never smelled death until I was on the island, it was the people who were drown because their boats arrived in the dark and got hit by the corral reef, lots of people drown. From that experience, I feel more compassion of any others refugees and the importance of United Nation, most of the supply came from UNHCR, as we know United Nation are funded primarily by USA, people tend to forget where the money come from. Thank you again for this documentary.
The Thai people never apologize for the atrocity their fishermen had done to the Vietnamese. Over 400,000 thousands people had perished due to the Thai's pirates reign of terror for over 22 years.
How terrible Thai pirates were! They took advantage of Vietnamese people who were in the most desperate situation!!!! Karma is real and I believe they will endure something even more awful than what they did!!!
Amazing how Vietnam still consider Thailand as their good friend after this. And Thai people or governments never apologized for this atrocity. But like you said Karma is real and like I always say Karma will prevail.
Yeah I do remember Vietnam Refugee Camp in Sungai Besi and had seen them protesting when M'sia government decided to remove the camp. In year 1999 I was working in 1 of factory in Sungai Buluh and surprised 90% of my factory workers are Vietnamese origin but they already converted into Islam and adopting Malay culture. The other story that I heard from Trengganu that many of Vietnamese refugee landed with Golden Buddha statute and gold accessory offering to local for helping them. In Malaysia we always heard about refugee journey story and Thailand always offering best brutal inhuman treatment and always get escape from UN punishment ..WHY! and we Malaysian are always to be blame WHY! majority of us is damn poor ..🤦♂️
I stayed on Bidong for a few months with my grandpa in 1979. I was 9 at the time. It was fun on the island. Learned about jellyfish & coral rocks (don't step on them). Sleeping on plywood was the hardest thing, but eventually, your body will get used to it. Trust me.
I was live here from 1985 to 1987 , lots of memory in this camp, I very want to go back here to visit, how can I go back to Pulau Bidong, if anyone knows please share to me, thank you for ur video
We know the hardship endured the boat people faced but still we Malaysian tried hard to help these people wth what we had even though Malaysia was just a developing country. Because to us they were just like our brothers and sisters even though different beliefs.
Yes, they also gave out condensed milk cans for the tails of rats. When I was there in 1981, many refugee men also bought small little canoes to fish in order to sell in the market. Some died at sea and were never heard of again. One day the authority collected all the canoes, stacked them up into a big pile, and lit it on fire. It was a sight I will never forget.
Certainly, life in the US has made those people less appreciative of this island Pulau Bidong and/or refugee camp. Thus, they didn’t hesitate calling it the Hell Island. They certainly did not know what the communist prison was like. Likewise, they had not read such prison stories like, Papillon (Henri Charriere) or The Gulag Archipelago (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) ... etc... They are so myopic and their stories are so obtuse...
The island is beautiful and a most memorable place for many immigrants. Why called it “ Hell island”? Do you think people will comes back to visit if the island was Hell?
before 1975-1977 Vietnamese people were made to walk in the scorching hot sun only to be tricked and brought back to the boat and sent back to sea it wasn’t until 1978 was an island set up to house Vietnamese refugees
Nice documentary. But the title is not appropriate I think. Hell Island? When you lari dari peperangan, ke satu pulau yang aman.? You guys called it Pulau Neraka? Yes, it is crammed and blablabla, but it is better than stay at their home with all the war going on.
Thanks for the feedback, but that's how Pulau Bidong was often referred to back then. The conditions were really bad, with 45,000 people crammed into a space meant for < 5,000 people. Yes, the island represented hope and freedom to a lot of the inhabitants, but we cannot ignore the reality of what happened. Life on the island - and the journey to get there - was hellish, and most historical accounts will corroborate this.
Fazrul Isa itu kisah lalu ...tapi yang skrg puak rohinya lagi ngeri bro...dah di tolong siap minta hak sama rata lagi...😂...dasar tamak bangsa rohinya🤷🏻♀️
Malaysia & indonesia is friendly country, until now they open for sri lanka refugees rohingya & filipino conflict with Sulu vs Milf. God bless islamic country.
The nickname of Hell Island was actually given by an international aid worker who visited the island, and was appalled by the conditions. Don't be so quick to presume that the refugees are not appreciative. It's typical of many false narratives of refugees being demanding or ungrateful, which in this case is clearly untrue.
@@rageonlinetv Still didn't agree with the name given. Just because of one person called it Hell Island. You haven't gone to hell if you named the hope island of these refugees. Disrespectful!!!
How come you name the title as you did after ONE person’s description/impression VS what the people who actually went through it whom did not call it hell
@@rageonlinetv Don't also be quick to use a term by 1 international aid worker who visited the island instead of listening to the people who actually lived in the island despite being cramped, because they had no other place to go and felt like they had escaped an even Hellish place to have some freedom and hope for a better future. It could have shown how opening up islands to war torn refugees is a positive thing. Other countries should have emulated the same thing. If various neighbouring islands opened up, maybe all 40000 desperate people did not ended up flooding this tiny island in the first place. Malaysia had done what they could have. It might not be enough. But they did something.
@@rageonlinetv, if you listen carefully to what they said, hell was what they faced at sea, not on the island. They were treated fairly once landed on the island. I was there and witnessed how they were treated.
FYI, the Malaysian government used the refugees as bargain for high fees and big chunks of USAID. It didn't keep us there for nothing. Initially, the Malaysian navy (as well as Indonesian and Thai navies) shot at us without mercy...
Jamil Atan Actually, it was a term coined by a foreign aid worker who visited the island. Most of the Bidong survivors are actually very grateful, as you can see in the comments here. But that doesn’t change the fact that conditions were terrible, and the journey there extremely treacherous.
Dont complain how bad the condition at particular moment cos you all were ready for it. Atleast malaysia let you stay there. I myself met you refugees from 1 big boat without food at a beach in DESARU we people bring food for all the refugees.
@@mokhtarmustaffa2363 It's not that they were complaining - they were simply telling us what the conditions were like back then - cos we asked! That's what we're supposed to do as journalists. But it's just strange how so many Malaysians are so quick to see refugees as "ungrateful", when most of them are nothing but grateful to be alive.
@@rageonlinetv so, if sleeping on the branches and only one set of clothes for months was hell.. I guess was not so bad. I was thinking of rape, starvation, killing and so many inhumane things happened daily on that island. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@rageonlinetv That's because you titled your clip inappropriately and untruly; which consequently lead to many misunderstanding among Malaysian and other viewers. You guys need to correct it appropriately.
Hi R.AGE! I was a minor at Bidong back then, and I’ve been back and forth to Bidong numerous times for nearly consecutive 10 years but never I heard anyone called Bidong as a “Hell Island “. Totally agree with you about the harsh living conditions back then but not up near to the point that we would have lacked of food and water supplies daily. Nor haven’t had anyone died from starvation yet? So excuse the term “barely livable “! Yet, majority of people were there for the same reason of seeking a FREEDOM, not for the economic comfort, and they better all knew that Bidong was just a transitional temporary place prior to their new horizon in the third world countries. Last but least they all went through either horrible lethally piracy, tremendous oceanic typhoons, deadly starvation, lost of direction etc on their escapes, and such those things could have took their life away unremorsefully and irreversibly. Such and such, death or discomforting ? Which one is more superior and significant? You choose it! On top of that, Bidong was still in a better condition than many refugee camps (Songkhla, Sikew, Panatikhom, etc) in Thailand in terms of water and food supplies, living environment, UHNCR services, etc you name them all! I just wonder myself that for those who unhappily complained about the harsh living conditions in Bidong’s why did you not stay on a porch at where you were originally from so you could enjoy all the comforts? Why bothered to risk your life just to “exchange “ for a worse living condition in Bidong? R.AGE, You guys are as movie makers and to especially document the history of Bidong’s , you must do better supportive researches to depict truly about Bidong, instead of listening to only few negative comments of ungrateful bidongers and hastily named Bidong as a HELL Island. That was profusely not correct, not right, and not kind to Bidong Island itself, to many Bidongers, to the UHNCR , to MRC, and to the government of Malaysia! Shall it be more appropriate to name Bidong as the "HOPE ISLAND"; The Island of Survival, The Island of Hope, The Island of Freedom. Your considerateness! P/s: per your statement Bidong was given a nickname as “Hell Island “, may you kindly direct me to that reference please!
I am guessing "Hell Island" is where others have to say good bye to their loved ones who were killed at sea, or a place where girls and women have to force abortion as a result of raped and unwanted pregnancies, and for those who were there witnessing their friend committing suicide when they were forced to go back to Viet Nam, after Bidong is closed to refugees in the 1990s. It is a place of hope but also a place of mourning for the lost lives.
@@b.t.z.6268 hi B.Z Thanks for your thoughtful explanation. Per your description, the name of “mourn Island “ might be suitable then ever. You may want to rewatch it again, you will obviously see that those who being interviewed always mentioned about the hardship of being in Bidong, the horrible time they had experienced in Bidong and many other negative comments. Those people had voluntarily depicted a bad impression on the video makers mind and that was why they named Bidong as the island of Hell. That’s a shame.
In the mid eighties one of our friends from Penang went to Pulau Bidong to become a volunteer teacher. She was a science graduate but she said taught English to the refugees.
I used to live in bulao pidong back in 1987. Thanks to Malaysia government for letting our Vietnamese boat people rest here after Vietnam war. As a young child left Vietnam for a better life. Now i live in the USA but my heart never forget Bulao Pidong an island of Malaysia. Thanks so much to Malaysian government.
Finally some Vietnamese whose were actually grateful, we need more people like you
Hi R.AGE!
I was a minor at Bidong back then, and I’ve been back and forth to Bidong numerous times for nearly consecutive 10 years but never I heard anyone called Bidong as a “Hell Island “.
Totally agree with you about the harsh living conditions back then but not up near to the point that we would have lacked of food and water supplies daily. Nor haven’t had anyone died from starvation yet? So excuse the term “barely livable “! Yet, majority of people were there for the same reason of seeking a FREEDOM, not for the economic comfort, and they better all knew that Bidong was just a transitional temporary place prior to their new horizon in the third world countries. Last but least they all went through either horrible lethally piracy, tremendous oceanic typhoons, deadly starvation, lost of direction etc on their escapes, and such those things could have took their life away unremorsefully and irreversibly. Such and such, death or discomforting ? Which one is more superior and significant? You choose it!
On top of that, Bidong was still in a better condition than many refugee camps (Songkhla, Sikew, Panatikhom, etc) in Thailand in terms of water and food supplies, living environment, UHNCR services, etc you name them all!
I just wonder myself that for those who unhappily complained about the harsh living conditions in Bidong’s why did you not stay on a porch at where you were originally from so you could enjoy all the comforts? Why bothered to risk your life just to “exchange “ for a worse living condition in Bidong?
R.AGE, You guys are as movie makers and to especially document the history of Bidong’s , you must do better supportive researches to depict truly about Bidong, instead of listening to only few negative comments of ungrateful bidongers and hastily named Bidong as a HELL Island. That was profusely not correct, not right, and not kind to Bidong Island itself, to many Bidongers, to the UHNCR , to MRC, and to the government of Malaysia!
Shall it be more appropriate to name Bidong as the "HOPE ISLAND"; The Island of Survival, The Island of Hope, The Island of Freedom.
Your considerateness!
P/s: per your statement Bidong was given a nickname as “Hell Island “, may you kindly direct me to that reference please!
Well said.
😢😭 Hope Island is more appropriate. ❤️ From SEA brother 🇲🇾
@Lambert John hello John.
Thanks tremendously to you and your school and many other associations to put in enormous helps to us, the Vietnamese Boat people, back then.
We owe your country a gratitude.
Have a great day and hope seeing you somehow in Malaysia because my group go visiting Bidong yearly.
Agree with you@@BIDONGFAMILY . I was a there too, but I have not heard it either.
Well said. I was a 5 years old when we were at Bidong in 1978. All i remembered from time in the island was how beautiful it was running along the shoreline with the packs of moving fishes . We were fed and we had a safe place to sleep . I remembered seeing a massive cross of Jesus Christ in a church. I remember going up the mountains with my younger brother that was 3 at that time. Fond memories. Im a USA citizen now, 47 years old and America is the greatest country in the world.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you Malaysia gov
Thank you for the kindness and generosity of the Malaysian people.
im malaysian,some of malaysian bloggers tell stories about this island and the refugees, mostly they said it is tragic ,loss for malaysian and such a waste of time to help the vietnam refugees in that island. But after i watch this docmentary and the comments,i felt its not a great loss for us, because we/our malaysia country had given people hope and second chance of lives to unfortunate people.It is made us a better country with humanity and good to others.
Beautifully said. It is a privilege to be able to help others, without expecting any thanks in return.
R.AGE then you better change the title of it! Bidong is the Island of Hope! We, the Vietnamese Boat People truly appreciate the help of Malaysia country tremendously, and we will never forget our lovely memorial island, BIDONG!
@@rageonlinetv Yes, we all are grateful for the Malaysian government. I was a minor in October 1982 when I arrived there with my relatives. I hope to be able to go visit Bidong soon, after the pandemic. I think we stay there for a few months, then transferred to another place for a few months where we have to buy pork by throwing coins/gold wrapped in newspapers over a wall, then someone would throw a piece of pork back over. I think that place is called Singa B.C.? Then we left to Philippine Refugee Processing Center (PRPC) and stay there for almost 1yr.
It is also worth noting According to Wikipedia, "The United Nations convened an international conference in Geneva, Switzerland in July 1979, stating that "a grave crisis exists in Southeast Asia for hundreds of thousands of refugees". Illustrating the prominence of the issue, Vice President Walter Mondale headed the U.S. delegation. The results of the conference were that the Southeast Asian countries agreed to provide temporary asylum to the refugees, Vietnam agreed to promote orderly departures rather than permit boat people to depart, and the Western countries agreed to accelerate resettlement. The Orderly Departure Program enabled Vietnamese, if approved, to depart Vietnam for resettlement in another country without having to become a boat person.[16] As a result of the conference, boat people departures from Vietnam declined to a few thousand per month and resettlements increased from 9,000 per month in early 1979 to 25,000 per month, the majority of the Vietnamese going to the United States, France, Australia,[17] and Canada. The worst of the humanitarian crisis was over, although boat people would continue to leave Vietnam for more than another decade and die at sea or be confined to lengthy stays in refugee camps.
@@b.t.z.6268 Singa B.C. that was mentioned by you is Sungai Besi. Hope you're doing great now.
We came to Pulau Bidong in 1989 - 1991. Best time of my life, we were free, survived the sea and was just thankful to God to be alive. We were so innocent, didn't know how BIG the SEA was and came close to death. - MC 476 -
Totally agree with you bro. It was such a miracle that we survived and made to that Island. It is still always so beautiful every time I think about those days I lived at(on) Pulau Bidong. MC:342
Glad to know that you made it out of the island safely. I was there in 1990 for a few months, working with MRCS.
Palau bidong Malaysia still in my memories never forget # MB 837
now i seen back from my memorys pulau bidong thank gods and thank too GOV Malaysia keep all vietnamese to camp island , thanks this videos
I was born in Pulau Bidong of 1988. I hear stories from my parents naturally and met other people over time who was present during that time but none said it was as you claim as “Hell Island”.
You stated you asked ONE worker’s perspective/opinion but you brushed off everyone else’s opinion. Why?
I like the video, thank you for it but I think you should change the title as none of survivors to this day call it “Hell’s island”
This is an incredible story and the video is very well done. Wow.
Im here too 😅
I came here after watching ur vlog!
Oh wow, you guys already watch it, just come here after watching your vlog.
@@imanishraf6215 yeah me too after watching Steve and ivana vlog
I'm here after watching your video. As a Malaysian myself, I just discover this. Thank you!
I used to work in pulau bidong as a teacher. Wonderful experience
I was to one of the family came to this island back 79 wow they bring back so much memories and I will never forget it. My family and I was very lucky to escape Vietnam and stranded on the ocean for weeks before we have arrive to the Island
Would like to get in touch with you because my uncle arrived around the same time
Sorry for all Vietnamese. We couldn’t give you more help. Malaysia in 1970s is still a poor country.
That time even many Malaysians living at rural and village live in small wooden house, some people just don't understand time make the difference 30 years ago and now. Besides, it was temporary anyway. Honestly many were grateful for malaysian goverment to open an island for refugee.
Thank you, Malaysia.
The Bidong Island isn't an island of Hell, but it's an island of Hope.
Thanks for the education n god bless the survivors 🙏
It wasn't a "Hell Island". It was paradise on earth for those who reached it. It means you have an opportunity to migrate into a land of opportunity.
I truly believe the mass migrations of Chinese and Vietnamese as part of the "boat people" has transformed the entire world. Many of the Asians including me has positively affected the countries that we moved to. The first generation of the boat people suffered because they were usually older and had a harder time integrating with western society. However, the second and third generations has become doctors, engineers, scientists and so on. If you take a look at the Asian population in Southern California, Canada, Australia and many other places, you will understand that it has made a huge impact on the areas where the immigrants settled. Often the property values has sky rocketed and created enormous wealth.
We arrived to Malaysia in 1978 before Bidong was ready to receive immigrants. When we landed in the shore at night, the men took axes and cut the ship into pieces so they police won't push the boats back. When the police arrived in the morning, they had guns pointed to us and we were scared. However, they realized the ship was sunk and can't be pushed back so they moved us to the refugee camp. In that time, the immigrants who were moved to Bidong lived in an area across from the Merang Jetty called "Pulau Besar" for about a year. We still have many fond memories of that place. I recall the Malaysian people were very nice. The men would swim across the river to the other side and trade with the locals for chickens and other food items. We had to build out own hut out of sticks and coconut leaves. It was like living in a old village.
I recall as kids, we went fishing, swimming and it was like a vacation. People were making swings and swinging across the river with ropes. Going to the bathroom was an experience. It was a hole on the ground with a wood plank over it and boy did it smelled bad. Many people go to the local bush area to do their thing. If you walk across that field, you have to avoid those "land mines" that people drop everyday. When you step on a fresh one, it was not pleasant. There was no toilet paper, so you have to learn how to use a stick to scrape it off. It was definitely interesting for someone who grew up in a big city. Every day, we would see new people such as friends and relatives escaping. We also heard of many tragic stories about people who didn't make it. Many of the adults including our parents were helping to set up Bidong Island for future refugees. The later refugees after 1979 to 1980s were then moved to Bidong Island. Pulau Besar was heaven on earth at that time.
We were later transferred to Kula Lumpur refugee camp after a year in Pulau Besar. It was one of the first time we actually had bread with butter or margarine. I still remember that to this day. They housed us in this big bunk bed area. There was a church on top with a big Jesus statue on a cross. As kids, we would always wonder why they put a bleeding guy on top of a pole for all to see. Back in those days, we didn't have TVs. However, there was a family of Malaysians that lived near the edge of the camp. They would open up the window and watch TV and all the kids would be up to the fence peeking in and watching TV shows. They were watching the incredible Hulk and 6 million dollar man. All the kids would pretend we were hulk or make the noise when the six million dollar man uses his strength. I still remember the grandmother kept saying "Ba Ji No Good!" Apparently Ba Ji was the name of the little kid and when he does something wrong, the grandmother would say it. After that, all the kids in the refugee camp kept saying "Ba Ji No Good!". I hope Ba Ji sees this post and remembers it.
I think its an embarrassment for you to label the island as "Hell Island". Its one of the few places were people literally transformed an uninhabited island into a thriving community with churches, temples, barber shops, and so on. You hardly ever see this type of cohesiveness with everyone sharing similar stories of survival to reach that point. We escaped from the Hell that was in Vietnam to come to a place that was full of promises and opportunities. You will never understand that because you weren't there.
Yeah, it wasn't hell for me in 1979. It was fun as a 9 yr old kid with his grandpa. We had food, a dry place to sleep (although on plywoods), but better than dying at sea. I think it was heaven, not hell. My days were spent exploring the island, ocean, beach, waterfalls, etc. I only stayed a few months, like 5-6, then flew to Los Angeles, & eventually to Pittsburgh to begin my new life.
I was there 1978, 13 years old, still got all the memories that happened, short time, 10 months there.
Cảm on cái video của bạn đã để lên đây, nơi đây thật quá nhiều kỷ ức, mình ở đây nam 85 đen 87 , mình rất muốn trở về nơi đây, bạn ơi cho mình biết làm sao để vào lại nơi đây ha ban?
Hi, thank you for the video well made, I was 9 when we set foot on the island Nov 1978 until May 1979. For sure the short documentary cannot encapsulate everything, most of the stories are legit, our boat was raided by Thailand fisherman, luckily they did not have the time to finish us as a big cargo shown up, the cargo saw us but continue their route.
On the island I saw ladies who went crazy/mad because they were rape, I could not understand rape was but I knew something really bad happened to those ladies, I heard stories where the pirates tied the man and throw them to the ocean.
Those who think this island is not hell, maybe they got to the island much later where all the infrastructure were built and the supply chain was well established, so those people who don't think it is hell island, have some compassion for those who saw it as hell.
For sure the living condition is horrendous, I was always hungry, we only drink water that was boiled, I slept on tree branches so free massage. Everyday I saw coffins passed by as we lived close to the infirmary. Me and my sister waited in turn all day long to get to the water well. Our ration was only sardine, rice, bean, it took years before I can eat sardine again.
As a 9 years old, I fear of death for myself and my family, if you get diarrhea it is almost like a death sentence.
Everyday around 18h, we listened on the BBC shortwave for a very short update in Vietnamese from the BBC, one of the neighbors managed to salvage the radio.
I never smelled death until I was on the island, it was the people who were drown because their boats arrived in the dark and got hit by the corral reef, lots of people drown.
From that experience, I feel more compassion of any others refugees and the importance of United Nation, most of the supply came from UNHCR, as we know United Nation are funded primarily by USA, people tend to forget where the money come from.
Thank you again for this documentary.
The Thai people never apologize for the atrocity their fishermen had done to the Vietnamese. Over 400,000 thousands people had perished due to the Thai's pirates reign of terror for over 22 years.
How terrible Thai pirates were! They took advantage of Vietnamese people who were in the most desperate situation!!!! Karma is real and I believe they will endure something even more awful than what they did!!!
Amazing how Vietnam still consider Thailand as their good friend after this. And Thai people or governments never apologized for this atrocity. But like you said Karma is real and like I always say Karma will prevail.
@@KimPhabulous12 they already pay !!!that why southern thailand never find a peace
Palau bidong, my family was there in mid 1981,in my memories never forget PB 544. And my family left the island in 23 march 1983 to Canada 🍁
Pb578 . I came to Bidong early May , 5-2 -82 or 5-3-82 . I left Bidong in Sep 82 .
very insightful and heartbreaking
Yeah I do remember Vietnam Refugee Camp in Sungai Besi and had seen them protesting when M'sia government decided to remove the camp. In year 1999 I was working in 1 of factory in Sungai Buluh and surprised 90% of my factory workers are Vietnamese origin but they already converted into Islam and adopting Malay culture. The other story that I heard from Trengganu that many of Vietnamese refugee landed with Golden Buddha statute and gold accessory offering to local for helping them. In Malaysia we always heard about refugee journey story and Thailand always offering best brutal inhuman treatment and always get escape from UN punishment ..WHY! and we Malaysian are always to be blame WHY! majority of us is damn poor ..🤦♂️
I was 10 years old. October of 1982, we landed in Pulau Bidong.
This island giving you and all second chance ...and still alive until now
So sad memories.....but life go on.
I stayed on Bidong for a few months with my grandpa in 1979. I was 9 at the time. It was fun on the island. Learned about jellyfish & coral rocks (don't step on them). Sleeping on plywood was the hardest thing, but eventually, your body will get used to it. Trust me.
Would like to get in touch with you because my uncle arrived around the same time.
I was live here from 1985 to 1987 , lots of memory in this camp, I very want to go back here to visit, how can I go back to Pulau Bidong, if anyone knows please share to me, thank you for ur video
Now pulau bidong are open for visit.
You can visit malaysia
Kuala terengganu
The island locate near tourist island pulau redang terengganu.
It's better to acknowledge it as "peace" island rather than hell.
Cảm on cái video của bạn đã để lên đây, nơi đây thật quá nhiều kỷ ức, bạn ơi cho mình biết làm sao để vào lại nơi đây ha ban?
We know the hardship endured the boat people faced but still we Malaysian tried hard to help these people wth what we had even though Malaysia was just a developing country. Because to us they were just like our brothers and sisters even though different beliefs.
Who remembers catching rats, cutting off the tails and trading in for one pack of ramen per tail?
Kkk Au co di ban rat? Doi mi goi. MC 085 1988
Yes, they also gave out condensed milk cans for the tails of rats. When I was there in 1981, many refugee men also bought small little canoes to fish in order to sell in the market. Some died at sea and were never heard of again. One day the authority collected all the canoes, stacked them up into a big pile, and lit it on fire. It was a sight I will never forget.
Yes, this was the Bidong that I have served in 1985.
Does anyone know how to get a copy of a birth certificate if you were born on the island and end up migrating to Australia?
You can contact 2 agencies
1. UNHCR
2.MRCS ( Malaysia Red Crescent Society)
Both agency can help you and facilitate your birth certificates finding
This Island is not a hell island. But Thai pirates is inhuman. Thai gov at least need to have responsibility to provide justice.
Pulau Bidong is a HOPE ISLAND🏝👍🏼,
not ❌❌❌Hell Island❌❌❌
This Island is Paradise, second hope for Vietnam refugee.
You are right. It was never Hell island. For us, it was FREEDOM. I was so happy to be there (1980).
How do I get to Pulau Bidong from Vietnam?
Pulau bidong from malaysia..
Your kind of too late , theres no more refugee camp
@@khangdoan7407 LOL
Take a flight to M'sia first
I cry 😢
Tai sao lai goi hell island. I was there in 83 pb 833.
Chắc câu views. Vì trước giờ mình chưa hề nghe nói như vậy mà Bidong là nơi rất tình người dù thiểu thốn nhưng không chết đói. PB920 đây.
Certainly, life in the US has made those people less appreciative of this island Pulau Bidong and/or refugee camp. Thus, they didn’t hesitate calling it the Hell Island. They certainly did not know what the communist prison was like. Likewise, they had not read such prison stories like, Papillon (Henri Charriere) or The Gulag Archipelago (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) ... etc... They are so myopic and their stories are so obtuse...
Our family was there 1982
Thankyou
Freedom or hope island ring better. Hell island is such a negative take on the memories of Bidong Island.
MC 385 - year 1998 is here to salute
The island is beautiful and a most memorable place for many immigrants. Why called it “ Hell island”? Do you think people will comes back to visit if the island was Hell?
before 1975-1977 Vietnamese people were made to walk in the scorching hot sun only to be tricked and brought back to the boat and sent back to sea it wasn’t until 1978 was an island set up to house Vietnamese refugees
Wowww are you good man
Nice documentary. But the title is not appropriate I think.
Hell Island? When you lari dari peperangan, ke satu pulau yang aman.?
You guys called it Pulau Neraka?
Yes, it is crammed and blablabla, but it is better than stay at their home with all the war going on.
@Eason Cheng They were running from hell. Not come to hell.
Thanks for the feedback, but that's how Pulau Bidong was often referred to back then. The conditions were really bad, with 45,000 people crammed into a space meant for < 5,000 people.
Yes, the island represented hope and freedom to a lot of the inhabitants, but we cannot ignore the reality of what happened. Life on the island - and the journey to get there - was hellish, and most historical accounts will corroborate this.
Diberi penempatan percuma sambil mengharapkan emas dr kerajaan malaysia... Itu sudah lebih had... xde sorg pon yg cakap tq pd kerajaan malaysia...
Fazrul Isa itu kisah lalu ...tapi yang skrg puak rohinya lagi ngeri bro...dah di tolong siap minta hak sama rata lagi...😂...dasar tamak bangsa rohinya🤷🏻♀️
@@cac8803 ...rohingya ni pon 1 masalah jugak... 😅😅😅
Malaysia & indonesia is friendly country, until now they open for sri lanka refugees rohingya & filipino conflict with Sulu vs Milf. God bless islamic country.
@R.AGE The word "Hell" in the image should be removed immediately and replaced with "Hope"
He said he has hair LOL
10:47 yep
I was there . 1989 MC-304
this should be called hope island.
Hope island, not hell island
In the end .......IT ALL THANKS TO THE AMERICA
😢😢❤❤❤❤
Pulau Tengah.... 10/3/1978 - 2/23/1979 anyone I know out there?
I am Australian, not Viet,,,but I visited for one day in 1980
MB486 thank you
Đổi sinh mạng đi tìm tự do. Xứng đáng
Hell island? Its sound rude. Never appreciate is what i can say.
The nickname of Hell Island was actually given by an international aid worker who visited the island, and was appalled by the conditions.
Don't be so quick to presume that the refugees are not appreciative. It's typical of many false narratives of refugees being demanding or ungrateful, which in this case is clearly untrue.
@@rageonlinetv Still didn't agree with the name given. Just because of one person called it Hell Island. You haven't gone to hell if you named the hope island of these refugees. Disrespectful!!!
How come you name the title as you did after ONE person’s description/impression VS what the people who actually went through it whom did not call it hell
@@rageonlinetv Don't also be quick to use a term by 1 international aid worker who visited the island instead of listening to the people who actually lived in the island despite being cramped, because they had no other place to go and felt like they had escaped an even Hellish place to have some freedom and hope for a better future. It could have shown how opening up islands to war torn refugees is a positive thing. Other countries should have emulated the same thing. If various neighbouring islands opened up, maybe all 40000 desperate people did not ended up flooding this tiny island in the first place. Malaysia had done what they could have. It might not be enough. But they did something.
@@rageonlinetv, if you listen carefully to what they said, hell was what they faced at sea, not on the island. They were treated fairly once landed on the island. I was there and witnessed how they were treated.
Vietnam tidak mengenang budi rakyat malaysia
Minh cung toi bidong nam 82 d'en nam 85 roi dao sang phap
Look at Vietnam today.....they are more prosperous than ever.
One Way Tick Tok oder Tickets...........?
Return to hell island????
Dung nhac toi viet cong
U guys all should thanks to malaysia goverment.
Saphire Archon As you can see from most of the comments here, many are indeed grateful, despite the terrible conditions they were forced to live in.
FYI, the Malaysian government used the refugees as bargain for high fees and big chunks of USAID. It didn't keep us there for nothing. Initially, the Malaysian navy (as well as Indonesian and Thai navies) shot at us without mercy...
They do can’t you seee???
Pb459 và pb477
Hell Island? is that what the Vietnamese war survivors are calling Pulau Bidong? So ungrateful ..to say the least!
Jamil Atan Actually, it was a term coined by a foreign aid worker who visited the island. Most of the Bidong survivors are actually very grateful, as you can see in the comments here. But that doesn’t change the fact that conditions were terrible, and the journey there extremely treacherous.
Dont complain how bad the condition at particular moment cos you all were ready for it. Atleast malaysia let you stay there. I myself met you refugees from 1 big boat without food at a beach in DESARU we people bring food for all the refugees.
@@mokhtarmustaffa2363 It's not that they were complaining - they were simply telling us what the conditions were like back then - cos we asked! That's what we're supposed to do as journalists.
But it's just strange how so many Malaysians are so quick to see refugees as "ungrateful", when most of them are nothing but grateful to be alive.
@@rageonlinetv so, if sleeping on the branches and only one set of clothes for months was hell.. I guess was not so bad. I was thinking of rape, starvation, killing and so many inhumane things happened daily on that island. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@rageonlinetv
That's because you titled your clip inappropriately and untruly; which consequently lead to many misunderstanding among Malaysian and other viewers.
You guys need to correct it appropriately.
Pb 695
MC 381
1978 DN 0388
DN 0388
Hi R.AGE!
I was a minor at Bidong back then, and I’ve been back and forth to Bidong numerous times for nearly consecutive 10 years but never I heard anyone called Bidong as a “Hell Island “.
Totally agree with you about the harsh living conditions back then but not up near to the point that we would have lacked of food and water supplies daily. Nor haven’t had anyone died from starvation yet? So excuse the term “barely livable “! Yet, majority of people were there for the same reason of seeking a FREEDOM, not for the economic comfort, and they better all knew that Bidong was just a transitional temporary place prior to their new horizon in the third world countries. Last but least they all went through either horrible lethally piracy, tremendous oceanic typhoons, deadly starvation, lost of direction etc on their escapes, and such those things could have took their life away unremorsefully and irreversibly. Such and such, death or discomforting ? Which one is more superior and significant? You choose it!
On top of that, Bidong was still in a better condition than many refugee camps (Songkhla, Sikew, Panatikhom, etc) in Thailand in terms of water and food supplies, living environment, UHNCR services, etc you name them all!
I just wonder myself that for those who unhappily complained about the harsh living conditions in Bidong’s why did you not stay on a porch at where you were originally from so you could enjoy all the comforts? Why bothered to risk your life just to “exchange “ for a worse living condition in Bidong?
R.AGE, You guys are as movie makers and to especially document the history of Bidong’s , you must do better supportive researches to depict truly about Bidong, instead of listening to only few negative comments of ungrateful bidongers and hastily named Bidong as a HELL Island. That was profusely not correct, not right, and not kind to Bidong Island itself, to many Bidongers, to the UHNCR , to MRC, and to the government of Malaysia!
Shall it be more appropriate to name Bidong as the "HOPE ISLAND"; The Island of Survival, The Island of Hope, The Island of Freedom.
Your considerateness!
P/s: per your statement Bidong was given a nickname as “Hell Island “, may you kindly direct me to that reference please!
I was born in 88 in Pulau Bidong
I am guessing "Hell Island" is where others have to say good bye to their loved ones who were killed at sea, or a place where girls and women have to force abortion as a result of raped and unwanted pregnancies, and for those who were there witnessing their friend committing suicide when they were forced to go back to Viet Nam, after Bidong is closed to refugees in the 1990s. It is a place of hope but also a place of mourning for the lost lives.
@@b.t.z.6268 hi B.Z
Thanks for your thoughtful explanation.
Per your description, the name of “mourn Island “ might be suitable then ever.
You may want to rewatch it again, you will obviously see that those who being interviewed always mentioned about the hardship of being in Bidong, the horrible time they had experienced in Bidong and many other negative comments. Those people had voluntarily depicted a bad impression on the video makers mind and that was why they named Bidong as the island of Hell.
That’s a shame.
In the mid eighties one of our friends from Penang went to Pulau Bidong to become a volunteer teacher. She was a science graduate but she said taught English to the refugees.