We, the 42 undersigned NGOs, welcome Inspector General of Police Khalid Ismail’s call to the public not to spread negative narratives and his call for calm amid concerns that online sentiment about Rohingya refugees in Malaysia could inflame tensions.
Khalid had pointed out that from 2024 until now, only 89 Rohingya individuals were involved in crime.
His call is timely as the recent surge of hate speech and vile rhetoric against the Rohingya has seen some locals resort to vigilantism. This is deeply troubling. Left unchecked, it could spiral into something far more dangerous.
This wave of xenophobia has been driven largely by manufactured disinformation, including the false claim that the Rohingya were demanding citizenship. There have been online petitions calling for their removal from the country.
As a result, the community has faced verbal and physical harassment and even threats to their lives, leaving many afraid to step outside their homes.
- 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
We call on the government to take firm action against anyone who takes the law into their own hands in a bid to make life unbearable for Rohingya refugees.
The Rohingya are refugees who were forced to flee their homeland in Myanmar to escape persecution, atrocities and killings. They did not come here as economic migrants.
They need to survive while awaiting resettlement in a third country, which has slowed to a trickle. This means providing access to education for children, healthcare and a means to earn a living.
But at present, refugee children are not allowed to enter government schools. And refugees have to pay much more expensive rates in public hospitals, which is prohibitive for those on low incomes, especially given that they are not allowed to work legally.
Still, many work informally to support their basic needs, often doing lowly paid work that locals shun. Because they lack official documentation, they are frequently exploited, underpaid and vulnerable to bullying and even extortion.
Against this backdrop, the government must put in place quickly effective systems and measures to ensure that the Rohingya can at least secure their basic needs without falling prey to exploitation by public or private entities while awaiting resettlement to third countries.
This is needed to address the legitimate concerns of both the community and the public with civility and humanity.
We acknowledge that some Rohingya individuals have been involved in crime over the years. They must be brought to justice and face the consequences of their actions.
But an entire community must not be judged by the actions of a few, as that would amount to prejudice and stereotyping. After all, the police chief himself has pointed out that only 0.02% of crime cases involved the Rohingya.
Many ordinary Malaysians have always shown compassion to those who are suffering, especially those who have lost everything in the face of unexpected tragedy or unimaginable brutality.
This is our higher nature, and we must not allow a deliberate campaign of hate and vilification to undermine that.
- Al-Ikhlas Hope Society
- Agora Society Malaysia
- Aliran
- Allied Coordinating Council of Islamic NGOs Malaysia (Accin)
- Angkatan Kesatuan Siswa Malaysia (Aksi)
- Beyond Borders
- Carefugees
- Caring Hearts Bhd
- Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (Centhra)
- Centre for Independent Journalism
- Citizens International
- Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)
- Eco Knights
- Humanitarian Aid Selangor
- Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba)
- Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (Mapim)
- Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet)
- Malaysian Aids Foundation
- Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
- North South Initiative
- OHMSI Sdn Bhd
- OWL Center for Peace Penang
- Palestine Solidarity, Penang (PSP)
- Penang4Palestine (P4P)
- Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign
- Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (Gerak)
- Persatuan Pengguna Luar Bandar dan Ekologi Malaysia (Rural Malaysia)
- Pertubuhan Advokasi dan Pemerkasaan Masyarakat (Ace)
- Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram)
- Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama)
- Refugee Emergency Fund
- Refuge for the Refugees
- Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
- Sedarjat
- Tamil Foundation Malaysia
- Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association
- Tenaganita
- Teras Pengupayaan Melayu
- The Dr Wu Lien Teh Society
- Viva Palestina Malaysia (VPM)
- Youth Empowerment Support (Yes)
- Yayasan Atfal Jannah
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
