Fortify Rights reports abuse and inhumane treatment of Rohingya in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) – A new independent investigation by human rights organization Fortify Rights has documented inhumane and degrading conditions faced by Rohingya Muslims in Malaysian detention centers, calling on the government to release detained refugees and end their criminalization.

Victims of persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State since 2017, the Rohingya have fled in the thousands to refugee camps in Bangladesh or arrived on Malaysia’s coast after dangerous sea voyages. In Malaysia, rather than finding protection, many have encountered workplace exploitation and indefinite detention in immigration facilities.

Malaysia’s Migrant Detention Centers currently hold more than 21,000 migrants and refugees — just short of the government-reported capacity of 21,530. People from Myanmar constitute the largest group at 8,884, including 5,102 Rohingya. As Malaysia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, authorities do not formally recognize refugee status granted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, leaving many in legal limbo.

“Malaysia’s immigration detention is notorious for being one of the most broken and abusive systems globally,” said Yap Lay Sheng, Senior Human Rights Specialist at Fortify Rights. “For Rohingya, due to their manufactured statelessness, they can be detained indefinitely, subjected to years of severe abuse and inhumane treatment.”

Fortify Rights stressed that despite not having ratified the Refugee Convention, Malaysia remains bound by international human rights obligations prohibiting arbitrary arrest, indefinite detention and the return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution or serious harm. A new refugee registration scheme implemented in January by Malaysia’s Immigration Department will replace the current UNHCR registration system.

“Instead of tinkering with a migrant system already rife with abuse, Malaysia should abide by international legal standards and follow the UN Refugee Convention,” Yap said.