Rohingya refugees in Malaysia are facing an alarming increase in hostility and dehumanization, driven by a wave of coordinated negative social media content. For Sadek, a Rohingya activist and founder of Rohingya Rights Response (RRR), the situation shifted drastically following the Eid al-Adha festival in late May. After a backlash erupted online regarding the slaughter of cows by refugees in the town of Selayang, a viral petition on Change.org emerged, calling for the removal of the community from Malaysia. Despite the petition's eventual removal, it had already garnered almost half a million signatures, signaling a dangerous escalation in anti-refugee sentiment that has impacted the day-to-day lives of many communities.
In comparison to neighboring ASEAN states, Muslim-majority Malaysia has historically been considered a relatively hospitable destination for Rohingya refugees. In 2016, Prime Minister Najib Razak stated that the country must defend the Rohingya not just because they share the same faith, but because they are human. However, the arrival of more refugees following the 2017 ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, which forced over 700,000 to flee, combined with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has compounded resentments. Researchers believe that state elections in Johor on July 11 and Negeri Sembilan on August 1 have acted as a catalyst for the surge in hate speech, with migration policy emerging as a key talking point.
This rhetoric is increasingly echoed by prominent figures. On June 3, Nurul Zahid, daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, wrote on the social media platform Threads: “Do good in moderation. Don’t let the monkeys in the forest be fed [while] the children at home die of hunger. ADDRESS their issue of overpopulation immediately.” The debate crosses partisan lines, with a deputy police commissioner recently referring to the Rohingya issue as a “cancer” while questioning where they should be sent back. Furthermore, an anti-immigrant Facebook group with over 50,000 members appears to be run by a district officer for the Negeri Sembilan State Islamic Affairs Department, with posts calling for the removal of refugees and opposing their right to driving licenses.
Dr. Salawati Mat Basir, an associate professor and legal advisor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, recently joked in a podcast about Malaysia “rolling out the red carpet” for refugees, noting that ASEAN security figures had previously suggested the country should “shoot. Shoot them. Don’t let them come into your territorial waters.” Yasmin Ullah, executive director of the Rohingya Maìyafuinor Collaborative Network, noted that this upsurge in hateful rhetoric is not new but displays more coordination between political figures, influencers, and news agencies, describing it as manufactured and opportunistic ahead of the elections. Doctors Without Borders advocate Jasnitha Nair alleges that media outlets are monetizing this negative engagement, while Sin Chew Daily editor Khor Chun Kiat described the group as “human barnacles clinging stubbornly to Malaysia,” adding that the only way to remove them is to “take a scraper and forcefully chip them away.”
The impact of this online vitriol has manifested in severe offline consequences. Yap Lay Sheng of Fortify Rights stated that when influential figures repeat harmful rhetoric, they lend legitimacy to online hate, which has already translated into vigilantes exposing the locations of homes and schools and brutalizing individuals. RRR shared a database of over 100 social media posts collected between June 18 and July 6, finding that 30 percent contained misinformation, 30 percent featured hate speech, and nearly 17 percent depicted children. Activist Michelle and other NGOs emailed Meta on July 4 to request the removal of 15 posts involving doxxing and targeted harassment. Meta has escalated the complaint, though Sadek notes that enforcement remains inconsistent due to language barriers, echoing concerns from the 2021 “Facebook Papers” regarding the platform's inability to moderate non-English hate speech.
The situation bears disturbing parallels to the narratives that preceded the 2017 military campaign in Myanmar. Many online attacks focus on misinformation regarding birth rates, and a Change.org petition calling for the sterilization of Rohingya women received over 400,000 signatures before its removal in early July. For refugees, the psychological toll is immense; many are afraid to speak their native language in public or leave their homes. Reports include videos of Malaysian citizens harassing children and women, and several Rohingya schools have been raided or forced to close. One principal in Alor Setar reported that students and teachers are so harassed by local residents that he began teaching lessons on the floor to remain hidden from windows.
Despite these mounting pressures, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysians to uphold humanitarian values, noting that repatriation to Myanmar remains impossible due to obstruction by the military-backed government in Naypyidaw. As Malaysia remains a primary sanctuary, Bryony Lau of Human Rights Watch emphasizes that the government has a responsibility to explain its refugee registration system and protect the rights of those who contribute to the economy. Sadek remains determined to continue speaking out, stating that silence has never protected his community and that the fight against misinformation is essential for their survival. Users should note that this report reflects the current state of affairs, and readers who have reached their limit of 2 free articles this month are encouraged to return for future updates.
