The Swedish government has given political asylum to a Burmese journalist in Malaysia who was abducted for 12 hours by unknown assailants two months ago.

However, Ko Minn Kyaw Minn said he plans to return to Malaysia "soon" to help the sizable Burmese community living here.

Minn Kyaw was nabbed by three men on June 1 while on his way to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to cover the one-day visit of Burmese Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt.

He claimed that his abductors, who had interrogated him on his activities in Malaysia, were from Malaysia's police Special Branch assisted by a few Burmese .

While a police report had been made, Minn Kyaw - who is editor of fortnightly magazine Burma Media Link , which supports detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi - said that there had been no progress on the investigation over his abduction.

He said he had contacted the police two weeks ago to inquire about the investigation, but was informed that there had been no new developments on his case.

Minn Kyaw, who is also the Malaysian correspondent for the Burmese news website bma-online , is nevertheless adamant that his assailants be apprehended and punished.

"I want to know who these people (kidnappers) are. How could they have violated the Malaysian law easily?" he asked.

Malaysia, second home

While Minn Kyaw is ecstatic to be given a Swedish passport, he said he would always consider Malaysia as his second home.

"Malaysia is like my own country. I have family and friends here," he quipped

The 26 year-old journalist is married to a Malaysian wife, and they have a five-month-old daughter.

In explaining his decision to return to Malaysia in the near future, Minn Kyaw said there is a dearth of organisations in the country which looks after the welfare of the Burmese migrants living here.

"In Europe, there are many organisations to help Burmese, but in Malaysia, it's almost nothing," he told malaysiakini in an interview last Friday.

Minn Kyaw has estimated a whopping 500,000 Burmese, both documented and undocumented, living in Malaysia.

He also expressed concern over the working condition of the Burmese migrants, some of whom are treated like 'slave workers'.

"They earn very little amount of money," he lamented. There is no proper place provided for the workers to stay and they were not given potable water to drink.

Minn Kyaw also said that being in Malaysia would give him better access to information on Burma so that he could further support the democracy movement there.

"Many Burmese come and go in Malaysia, so we can get information about Burma very quickly and we can respond immediately. If I am in Europe, I can't really get such information and be able to respond promptly." he explained.

Immediate plans

But his immediate plan when getting to his new home later this week is to learn the Swedish language and culture.

Minn Kyaw had lived in Malaysia for eight years as a political refugee after fleeing Burma, where his life was threatened by the military junta for his pro-democracy activities.

He said he had been jailed by the junta four times.

Minn Kyaw is, at the same time, sad and happy about his new life.

"I love Malaysia but I have to leave," he said. "I will back here very soon."

He hoped that he would not face any problem returning to his "second home" as he had not violated the Malaysian law, and has never worked against the Malaysian government at any time.