Post by : Badri Ariffin

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday instructed enforcement agencies to take action against a group of Rohingya Muslim refugees who gathered outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking in a video shared on his social media accounts, Anwar said authorities must strictly enforce the country's laws. He stated that refugees without valid permits should be detained by the Immigration Department, while those with proper documentation should be warned that legal action could still be taken if necessary.

"No one has the right to take over any part of the city," Anwar said. "I have directed immigration, police, and the local authorities to take strict action."

Refugees Travelled to Kuala Lumpur After Penang Evictions

According to the reports, hundreds of Rohingya refugees were reportedly forced to leave their homes in Malaysia's northern state of Penang on Sunday. They later travelled by bus to Kuala Lumpur to seek assistance from the UNHCR regarding resettlement.

The reported evictions came at a time when the Rohingya community has been facing increasing challenges in Malaysia.

Rising Online Hate Speech Raises Concerns

Since May, there has been a rise in online hate speech and misinformation targeting the Rohingya community. The growing hostility has reportedly resulted in increased harassment and closer scrutiny of the ethnic group.

The situation has also led to widespread school closures affecting members of the community.

Malaysia Hosts More Than 215,000 Refugees and Asylum-Seekers

According to the UNHCR, Malaysia had around 215,600 registered refugees and asylum-seekers at the end of February. More than half of those registered are ethnic Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Myanmar.

The UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. However, the agency said on Friday that it was concerned about the increase in online hate speech, disinformation and dehumanising narratives directed at Rohingya and other refugee communities. It warned that such content could contribute to harassment and discrimination offline.

Malaysia's Refugee Policy Remains Unchanged

Malaysia is not a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention and treats asylum-seekers as illegal migrants under its laws. Despite this position, the Muslim-majority country has long been regarded as a place of refuge for Rohingya escaping persecution in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.

That perception changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Rohingya refugees faced accusations of spreading the virus, failing to respect local cultural norms, and competing with Malaysians for employment.

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