KUALA LUMPUR – Rohingya refugees in Malaysia are reported to be facing nasty hate campaigns again.
Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani, the president of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation in Malaysia (Merhrom) has called on parties involved in hate campaigns against the community to stop such activities, especially in the holy month of Ramadan.
“Refugees are not threats; we are victims of war, genocide, and conflict who fled our countries to seek refuge and protection.
“We do not come here to steal locals’ jobs or take over the country. We are here to seek protection temporarily until (the) UNHCR finds a durable solution for us,” he said in a press statement today.
Zafar said that the Rohingya people are living in fear due to harassment by locals, with hit and runs and physical attacks.
This results in them facing financial difficulties since they avoid going to work for fear of being attacked by locals, he said.
In 2020, Zafar faced false accusations on TikTok and Facebook that he was demanding Malaysian citizenship and equal rights for the Rohingya community in Malaysia.
“This has provoked people and increased the anger of Malaysians. This is fake news and most people still believe this, resulting in the Rohingya refugees facing continuous harassment and hate crimes,” he reiterated.
Zafar said that he understands the dissatisfaction of Malaysians on certain issues related to the Rohingya refugees, and he hopes to discuss this matter with the Malaysian government, UNHCR, Malaysian Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, and Rohingya representatives soon.
Last Thursday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told the Dewan Rakyat that Selangor harbours the largest number of Rohingya refugees over all states and territories, with 52,169 of them, followed by Kuala Lumpur, which has 27,667 refugees.
The recent meeting of the high-level committee on the management of refugees and asylum seekers chaired by the prime minister decided to re-examine recommendations to improve the issue, especially in the aspects of national security and interests, and the well-being of the local community, he added. – The Vibes, March 26, 2023
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