Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective
The influx of illegal immigrants (PATI) [or economic refugees] is one of the non-traditional security issues that has long plagued the Southeast Asian region. Malaysia is no exception. Despite not being a member of any international refugee-related conventions, including the 1951 Refugee Conve...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2023
|
| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25617/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25617/1/Sinergi_3_SI_3.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848816406326411264 |
|---|---|
| author | Bakri Mat, Siti Darwinda Mohamed Pero, Ku Nurasyiqin Ku Amir, |
| author_facet | Bakri Mat, Siti Darwinda Mohamed Pero, Ku Nurasyiqin Ku Amir, |
| author_sort | Bakri Mat, |
| building | UKM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The influx of illegal immigrants (PATI) [or economic refugees] is one of the
non-traditional security issues that has long plagued the Southeast Asian region.
Malaysia is no exception. Despite not being a member of any international
refugee-related conventions, including the 1951 Refugee Convention and the
1967 Protocol, Malaysia recorded 185,920 registered refugees and asylum
seekers until August 2022 (UNHCR 2022). The government has made it an
unwritten policy for refugees to be treated on a humanitarian basis. Therefore,
this study was designed to explore the issues and concerns of Rohingya refugees
in Malaysia from a human security perspective. This research was conducted
using qualitative methodology by utilising primary sources from in-depth
interviews, direct observation through participation in seminars, and field studies
in selected areas in Northern Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in Kedah. The
study findings concluded that there are five areas of concern that often-become
obstacles to the livelihood of refugees in Malaysia, namely the right to work,
education, documentation, security (due to xenophobic sentiments), and
healthcare. These areas are fundamental to refugee livelihood; therefore, this
research finds that it is timely for the government to formulate a more transparent
and proactive policy to deal with this issue effectively. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T01:05:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:generic.eprints.org:25617 |
| institution | Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T01:05:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | oai:generic.eprints.org:256172025-07-15T07:16:12Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25617/ Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective Bakri Mat, Siti Darwinda Mohamed Pero, Ku Nurasyiqin Ku Amir, The influx of illegal immigrants (PATI) [or economic refugees] is one of the non-traditional security issues that has long plagued the Southeast Asian region. Malaysia is no exception. Despite not being a member of any international refugee-related conventions, including the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, Malaysia recorded 185,920 registered refugees and asylum seekers until August 2022 (UNHCR 2022). The government has made it an unwritten policy for refugees to be treated on a humanitarian basis. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the issues and concerns of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia from a human security perspective. This research was conducted using qualitative methodology by utilising primary sources from in-depth interviews, direct observation through participation in seminars, and field studies in selected areas in Northern Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in Kedah. The study findings concluded that there are five areas of concern that often-become obstacles to the livelihood of refugees in Malaysia, namely the right to work, education, documentation, security (due to xenophobic sentiments), and healthcare. These areas are fundamental to refugee livelihood; therefore, this research finds that it is timely for the government to formulate a more transparent and proactive policy to deal with this issue effectively. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2023 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25617/1/Sinergi_3_SI_3.pdf Bakri Mat, and Siti Darwinda Mohamed Pero, and Ku Nurasyiqin Ku Amir, (2023) Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective. SINERGI: Journal of Strategic Studies & International Affairs, 3 (SI). pp. 30-49. ISSN 2805-4520 https://spaj.ukm.my/sinergi/index.php/sei/issue/view/3 |
| spellingShingle | Bakri Mat, Siti Darwinda Mohamed Pero, Ku Nurasyiqin Ku Amir, Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective |
| title | Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective |
| title_full | Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective |
| title_fullStr | Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective |
| title_short | Refugee discourse in Malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective |
| title_sort | refugee discourse in malaysia: issues and concerns from human security perspective |
| url | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25617/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25617/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25617/1/Sinergi_3_SI_3.pdf |