Malaysia vows not to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar if lives at risk

Malaysia has said it will not proceed with the repatriation of 5,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar if their lives would be at risk upon return.

On Wednesday, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said the foreign and home ministries were still reviewing the repatriation plan voiced last week by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysia hosts more than 215,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including more than 126,000 Rohingya from Myanmar, the country’s largest refugee community.

Although it hosts one of Southeast Asia’s biggest refugee populations, Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and does not formally recognise refugee status.

Many Rohingya fled Myanmar during the military’s 2017 crackdown, which forced thousands to seek refuge abroad.

Rights groups say Rohingya refugees in Malaysia have faced growing online hate campaigns and disinformation, fuelling xenophobia and intimidation.

Wednesday’s announcement came after refugee schools across Malaysia were forced to shut down amid a surge in online hate speech, refugees were evicted from informal settlements in Penang state, and more than 100 Rohingya were briefly detained after gathering outside the UN refugee agency’s office in Kuala Lumpur to seek assistance.

They were later released after officials confirmed they held valid UN documentation.