Syed Saddiq warns Rohingya refugee issue is a ‘ticking time bomb’

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has warned that the Rohingya refugee situation in Malaysia is a ‘ticking time bomb’ that could escalate into a major social and political crisis if not addressed with firmer, more organized measures.

During a parliamentary debate on a select committee report regarding refugee management, Syed Saddiq noted that while Malaysia has accepted hundreds of thousands of refugees on humanitarian grounds, the country is shouldering a disproportionate burden compared to its neighbors. He cited figures suggesting Malaysia has approximately 130,000 officially registered Rohingya refugees, though unofficial estimates exceed 200,000. In contrast, he noted that Indonesia, Thailand, and India host significantly fewer Rohingya refugees.

Syed Saddiq called for greater international burden-sharing, suggesting Malaysia act as a temporary registration and processing hub before refugees are resettled in developed nations. He also proposed the establishment of a cross-party parliamentary special committee to develop a consistent, long-term national policy. To mitigate social, economic, and security pressures, he recommended setting a 10-year goal to gradually reduce the number of refugees in the country. Additionally, he urged maritime enforcement agencies to adopt a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy toward unauthorized arrivals to deter human trafficking.