The National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) expresses grave concern over the escalating xenophobia, hate speech and hostility directed at Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, particularly the growing willingness of private individuals to take the law into their own hands and mete out their own version of justice against an already vulnerable community.
Hakam is deeply troubled that it must once again speak on the treatment of Rohingya refugees barely three months after its statement on 31 July, which addressed the protection of Rohingya refugees and the need for any repatriation to Myanmar to be voluntary, safe and dignified.
The fact that Hakam is compelled to issue another statement on substantially the same matter within such a short period is alarming. The persistence of this hostility, and the apparent emboldening of individuals to act as self- appointed enforcers against refugees, points to a deeply troubling normalisation of xenophobia in our society.
No individual or group of private citizens has the authority to appoint themselves a legitimate authority simply because they believe another person does not belong here. Allegations of wrongdoing must be addressed through lawful processes, not through the collective targeting of an entire community.
The danger of vigilante behaviour extends beyond the immediate harm inflicted on its targets. When individuals feel entitled to enforce their own moral or legal judgments against others, the rule of law is undermined and the risk of violence escalates.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
The reported firebombing of Rohingya homes in Johor illustrates the very real consequences of hostility towards a vulnerable community. Such acts of intimidation and violence must be condemned unequivocally, and grievances must be addressed through lawful processes rather than private acts of retaliation.
When such conduct is directed at an ethnic or refugee community, it also creates an environment in which collective blame and dehumanisation can be treated as acceptable.
No community should have to live under the threat that its safety depends on the goodwill of strangers who have taken it upon themselves to determine who deserves protection.
Hakam reminds the public that Rohingya refugees have endured decades of persecution, discrimination and statelessness. Their presence in Malaysia does not extinguish their human dignity or fundamental rights.
Hakam calls on members of the public to reject vigilante action, refrain from spreading inflammatory and unverified allegations, and report suspected offences through the appropriate legal channels.
It is deeply troubling that, barely months after Hakam last addressed the plight of Rohingya refugees, we are once again confronted with the need to speak out against hostility towards the same community. The fact that this issue continues to demand repeated public intervention should give us serious pause.
Xenophobia cannot be allowed to evolve into a licence for private citizens to intimidate, punish or endanger those they consider unwelcome. – Hakam, 14 October
Dato’ Sri M Ramachelvam is the president of the National Human Rights Society.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
