“IT’S a ploy to distract the Malaysian public from other pertinent issues,” claimed some of the 74 local and international NGOs (numbers maybe rising) in response to the hate-mongering directed at Rohingya refugees of late.
Among the NGOs that came forward to voice their concerns were the Selangor Women’s Association (PSWS), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), BERSIH, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and the SIS Forum (Malaysia).
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In a joint statement, the NGOs involved described the growing wave of hatred and intimidation against the Rohingya community as worrying and shameful.
According to the statement, the spread of false information depicting the Rohingya community as demanding citizenship, political power or regional autonomy is deliberately designed and expanded to incite fear and hostility among the community.
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) had also argued that such racist behaviour not only goes against principles of humanity but also contradicts the teachings in Islam.
However, these pleas do not seem to be getting much traction. The anger is palpable and definitely rising.
An example on social media reflective of this growing resentment towards the refugees is a post on Facebook Reels by social commenter Nahur Bhai (also known as Nahur Omar) who fumed at the common sight of Rohingya kids roaming the streets in Kuala Lumpur begging for alms.
“Where are their parents?” he demanded to know. “Having been granted refugee status and you lack the means to raise a family yet you keep producing babies.”
The disgust was palpable as the founder of charitable organisation, The Good People Club, was of the opinion that the Rohingyas with their uncontrolled breeding was taking advantage of the host nation.
The short clip featuring his diatribe has generated 11.9K likes, 3.4K comments and 1.8K shares at the time of writing, denoting that this issue of Rohingyas in Malaysia is currently a trending topic.
Many rather view Rohingyas as illegal immigrants a.k.a. PATI than refugees who are overstaying their welcome as the country is being swamped by demanding refugees and illegal foreigners.
Likening the scenario to Palestine, one commenter warned that the country was at risk of being “taken over by Zionists”. It was also suggested that these Rohingya refugees be placed on an island such as Pulau Bidong like their Vietnamese counterparts from yesteryear.
One commenter insinuated that the country had created this problem for themselves by bringing them in the first place. Once they have progressed, locals get jealous and start instigating for them to go back to their country of origin.
However, his comment was met with a stinging rebuke from various commenters. One invited him to stay in Selayang where there are many Rohingyas to know the true situation.
Drugs and illicit gambling were among the social problems created by this group, it was claimed.
This sentiment was echoed by another obviously irate commenter who also claimed that those who defended the Rohingya refugees did NOT have to put up with them in their neighbourhoods.
It was also contended that this was the inevitable consequence of the country “overzealously playing the humanitarian role”.
Of course, there were those who took the opportunity to draw comparisons with the Rohingyas and other communities who were granted Malaysian citizenship.
It was disparagingly noted that the progeny of the latter has grown up to be demanding types who have forgotten their roots.
The NGOs and other civil society bodies may be calling for restraint but it seems to be falling on deaf ears for now as exemplified by the many negative comments.
Even the founder of The Good People Club is calling for the Rohingyas to stop procreating to respect Malaysia’s efforts on housing and feeding them. Extreme or justified? You decide. – June 10, 2026
