Malaysia detains over 100 Rohingya refugees seeking shelter at UN agency

Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers who had gathered outside the UN refugee agency in Kuala Lumpur, seeking protection after being displaced from their homes. The refugees, including women and children, were taken away in police trucks late Monday.

According to witnesses, the refugees said they were driven out of their homes in the northern state of Penang on Sunday. They traveled overnight to the capital to seek resettlement assistance from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The detentions occurred amid a surge in online hate speech and misinformation targeting the Rohingya community since May, leading to increased harassment and scrutiny, including school closures.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the gathering outside the UNHCR building had caused public concern, and warned that immigration authorities would detain anyone without proper permits. "No one has the right to take over any part of the city," he said in a social media video.

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Nobody helped (with) our problem, nobody understands.

One Rohingya refugee, Syed Kasim, who has lived in Malaysia for 20 years, expressed despair, saying, "Nobody helped (with) our problem, nobody understands." He arrived at the UNHCR building early Monday with his family but received no assistance from any authority. The UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur had not immediately responded to a request for comment but had previously expressed concern over rising online hate speech and dehumanizing narratives targeting refugees, which they warned could fuel offline discrimination.

While Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention and considers asylum seekers illegal migrants, it has historically been a refuge for Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar. However, perceptions shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Rohingya being blamed for spreading the virus, disrespecting cultural norms, and competing for jobs.

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No one has the right to take over any part of the city.