Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim orders crackdown on Rohingya refugees at UNHCR office
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim instructed Malaysia's immigration department, police and local authorities to detain Rohingya refugees gathered outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur who lack valid permits. The group had arrived after alleged evictions from homes in northern Penang and travelled to the capital by bus seeking resettlement assistance.
The UNHCR said it had about 215,600 refugees and asylum‑seekers registered in Malaysia at the end of February, over half of whom are Rohingya from Myanmar. The government, which is not a signatory to the 1951 UN refugee convention and treats asylum‑seekers as illegal migrants, said the action was needed to maintain public order.
The crackdown comes amid a rise in online hate speech and misinformation targeting the Rohingya since May, which the UNHCR warned could fuel harassment and discrimination. Public sentiment toward the community has been strained since the COVID‑19 pandemic, when Rohingya were accused of spreading the virus and competing for jobs.
Entities: Anwar Ibrahim · Malaysia · Penang · Rohingya refugees · UNHCR
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Anwar directed that individuals without travel documents or valid permits be detained and possibly placed in an immigration depot. (Reuters)
- [● 4 SOURCES] UNHCR warned that rising hate speech could fuel harassment and discrimination against refugees. (UNHCR)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Hundreds of Rohingya refugees were evicted from homes in northern Penang and travelled to Kuala Lumpur by bus. (Reuters)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered enforcement agencies to take action against Rohingya refugees gathered in front of the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur. (Reuters)
- [● 4 SOURCES] During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Rohingya were accused of spreading the virus and competing for jobs, worsening public sentiment. (Reuters)
- [● 5 SOURCES] UNHCR counted about 215,600 refugees and asylum‑seekers in Malaysia at the end of February, more than half of whom are Rohingya from Myanmar. (UNHCR data)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN refugee convention and treats asylum‑seekers as illegal migrants. (UNHCR)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Online hate speech and misinformation targeting Rohingya have increased since May, leading to harassment and school closures. (Reuters)