THE situation of refugees seeking asylum in Malaysia has reached what experts describe as a critical stage, with Sabah alone estimated to host more than one million individuals, including both registered and undocumented persons.
Berita Harian today cited Sabah Mufti Datuk Bongsu @ Aziz Jaafar saiying that official data indicates over 200,000 registered refugees in the state, but warned that the real figure is likely far higher, with as many as four undocumented individuals for every one registered.
“Recognition of refugees is a moral and faith-based obligation. There is religious basis for the right to seek protection,” he said while presenting a paper titled Islamic Perspective on the Protection of Refugees at the Islam and Humanity Symposium 2026.
He cited a recent fire in Kampung Bahagia, Sandakan, which destroyed around 1,000 homes, noting that despite approximately 70 per cent of victims being non-citizens, assistance was still extended on humanitarian and religious grounds.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia, Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohd Yusof Othman, said the refugee issue should no longer be viewed as temporary, but as an enduring global humanitarian reality requiring collective action.
He revealed that as of mid-2025, an estimated 117.3 million people worldwide are displaced, including more than 42 million cross-border refugees and nearly 67.8 million internally displaced persons.
In Malaysia, figures as of early 2026 show 218,268 registered refugees and asylum seekers.
“These figures are not merely statistics but reflect human suffering that demands a balance between national interests and universal humanitarian responsibility,” he said.
Mohd Yusof also highlighted the complex dilemma facing Malaysia in upholding national sovereignty while maintaining compassion and humanitarian values.
However, he expressed optimism, pointing to Malaysia’s past experience in managing approximately 250,000 Vietnamese refugees as well as Bosnian refugees effectively and with wisdom.
From a religious perspective, he stressed that within the framework of Maqasid Syariah, failing to protect refugees constitutes a broader moral failure, as it undermines the preservation of life, dignity and survival.
He further called for the issue to be addressed beyond academic discourse, urging its inclusion in educational curricula and mosque sermons to counter rising xenophobia.
“Refugees may have lost their country, but they should not lose their dignity and hope,” he said in his address at the symposium. - April 22, 2026
