Govt bears RM30 million yearly cost for Rohingya healthcare

The Malaysian government bears an annual cost of around RM30 million for the healthcare of Rohingya refugees, a figure that includes services like maternity care in public hospitals. This financial burden is compounded by the increasing refugee population, which strains national resources.

International law lecturer Prof. Madya Dr. Salawati Mat Basir of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) points out that the Rohingya issue extends beyond humanitarian concerns, impacting the nation's capacity to manage a growing refugee demographic. She notes the high birth rate among refugees, contrasting it with the lower birth rates of Malaysian citizens, which places additional pressure on public facilities such as hospitals and schools.

"We forget, these refugees (Rohingya) have about 10 children, Malaysians only one or two," Salawati stated, emphasizing the public's dissatisfaction with crowded hospital conditions. "There are legitimate reports revealing the government bears about RM30 million annually for childbirth, illness, and treatment in government hospitals. Whose money is that? That's Malaysian taxpayers' money."

Salawati attributes the prolonged problem to the Ministry of Home Affairs' failure to establish effective control and monitoring systems for refugees from the outset. She argues for a robust mechanism to manage refugees from their entry, including placement and education, to prevent the current situation of a large, uneducated refugee population in Malaysia.