Rising Hostility Forces Rohingya Refugees into Fear Across Malaysia

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Kuala Lumpur: Rohingya refugees in Malaysia are facing an unprecedented surge of hostility, marked by school raids, forced evictions, and intensifying public backlash against the stateless minority.

Once viewed as a safe haven for those escaping ethnic violence in Myanmar, Malaysia’s welcoming stance has deteriorated significantly over recent years. Community-run learning centres—the sole educational option for Rohingya children barred from public schools—have become prime targets of police crackdowns and local hostility, forcing several facilities to temporarily close or enforce strict safety measures. In some regions, entire families have been evicted from long-standing residential settlements, while an online petition demanding the immediate removal of the Rohingya collected over 420,000 signatures before being removed.

Human rights advocates attribute the escalating anti-refugee rhetoric to rising domestic economic pressures and shifting political narratives ahead of upcoming elections. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently stated that Myanmar agreed to repatriate 5,000 refugees, signaling a firm policy shift. With Myanmar still embroiled in severe civil conflict, the more than 126,000 registered Rohingya residing in Malaysia find themselves caught between an unsafe homeland and a host country where public sentiment is turning increasingly hostile

Pic Credit: AFP