‘I’m unwanted here’: Rohingya refugees’ Malaysian dreams dashed amid arrest fears, prejudice

Though the country currently has no legislative or administrative framework for dealing with refugees, it hosts an estimated 190,000 refugees officially recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over half of whom are Rohingyas.

Rohingyas are often categorised alongside undocumented migrants and processed as such by immigration authorities. Registered refugees are barred from accessing formal employment, education or receiving any legal protections in Malaysia.

Yet, the obstacles have not deterred many refugees in Malaysia from finding meaning and purpose by volunteering and giving back to their communities, all in the hopes that they can uplift those who share their struggles.