By Camp Correspondent
Kuala Lumpur, February 23, 2025
From a Rohingya viewpoint, the massive exodus to Malaysia is not an act of criminality but a desperate response to decades of persecution and violence in Myanmar. According to Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, more than 200,000 Rohingya refugees have entered the country illegally, a situation he deems a serious challenge for Malaysia.
However, for many Rohingya, these numbers represent a forced flight from an oppressive homeland.
Critics from within the Rohingya community argue that the spillover of Myanmar’s crisis into neighboring Malaysia is a direct consequence of state-led violence and discrimination back home.
The minister noted that the problems in Myanmar have transcended its borders and now affect Malaysia, citing increases in cross-border crimes such as human trafficking, fraud, cybercrimes, and drug-related offenses.
Yet, Rohingya advocates maintain that these refugees are not criminals but survivors fleeing systematic abuse.
Malaysia has long served as a refuge for those escaping the horrors of persecution in Myanmar. While rising numbers have indeed strained Malaysian resources, security, and immigration policies, the Rohingya stress that their migration is a matter of survival.
They point out that the international community must address the root causes of the crisis rather than solely focusing on border security.
The Rohingya argue that ASEAN’s principle of non-interference should not allow member states to neglect the humanitarian responsibility of protecting vulnerable populations.
As Malaysia urges stronger international action to resolve the crisis at its source, Rohingya leaders call for empathy and urgent measures to ensure safe and dignified living conditions for all those forced to leave their homes.
For the Rohingya, the challenge is not one of illegal entry but a profound failure of the international community to end the suffering that has compelled them to seek refuge.
