Anti-Rohingya rhetoric trigger a dangerous backlash

SHAH ALAM - Growing anti-Rohingya campaigns and online petitions calling for refugees to be deported from Malaysia risk fuelling discrimination, social tension and even violence against refugee communities, rights advocates have warned.

Human rights activist Adrian Pereira said Rohingya refugees are already living under difficult conditions and are now facing additional psychological pressure from campaigns that portray them negatively.

"It is not just a concern, it is a reality. Refugees are already in hard conditions and now face mental torture from such campaigns.

"I am very sure there will be physical and verbal attacks from Malaysians soon. And then who will be responsible?," he told Sinar Daily.

His remarks come amid growing online discussions and petitions calling for Rohingya refugees to be deported, with some social media users accusing the community of seeking special privileges and land rights in Malaysia.

Pereira cautioned that such narratives could worsen social tensions and undermine efforts by the government to better manage refugee communities.

He pointed to the government's recent introduction of the Refugee Registration Document (DPP), describing it as a positive step towards improving the management of refugees under the National Security Council's MKN23 framework.

"Malaysia has just started DPP, which is a good sign that Malaysia plans to manage the community better via MKN23.

"The problem now is hate speech and negative reporting which will later be used as election campaign tools. So we must be careful," he said.

Pereira also urged media organisations to exercise greater responsibility when reporting on refugee-related issues, warning that sensationalised coverage could amplify prejudice and misinformation.

"We need media editors to be kind and not promote or publish hate content which can go viral," he said.

He further criticised certain social media personalities whom he accused of exploiting refugee issues for attention and online engagement.

"We have seen so-called influencers using hate speech and physical harassment of refugee communities to gain publicity. They are just taking advantage," he added.

Recent controversy over the Rohingya community intensified after Rohingya human rights activist Yasmin Ullah rejected claims circulating online that Rohingya refugees in Malaysia were demanding land and special rights.

In a video posted on social media, Ullah said checks with contacts in Malaysia confirmed the claims were false.

She said Rohingya refugees did not leave Myanmar to seek special privileges, but fled persecution and violence. Ullah also warned that refugees are often blamed during difficult economic times.

"When economic pressure and social challenges exist, it's easy to blame refugees. But ask yourself, who benefits when ordinary people are divided and angry at each other?" she said.

She further cautioned that negative narratives about the Rohingya people can have dangerous consequences, noting that similar rhetoric was used in Myanmar before the 2017 crackdown on the Rohingya community.

"The hate speech targeting Rohingya in Malaysia today echoes the same narrative used in Myanmar, portraying Rohingya as outsiders, threats and people who do not belong," she said.

The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority from Myanmar who have faced decades of persecution, discrimination and displacement, leading hundreds of thousands to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, including Malaysia.

While Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it hosts a large refugee population registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.