For over two decades, Malaysia has been a primary destination for the Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Drawn by the hope of safety and economic opportunity, over 200,000 Rohingya now reside in Malaysia, making it one of the largest host countries for this stateless community. Despite the relative safety compared to the violent discrimination they face in Myanmar, their living conditions in Malaysia fall far short of international standards for refugee support.
As Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Rohingya lack formal legal status, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and arrest. They are not allowed to work legally, but many find informal employment in wholesale markets, construction, and other labor-intensive industries. These jobs, though low-paying and precarious, provide a lifeline for their families both in Malaysia and back home, where remittances are vital for survival.
While life in Malaysia offers more opportunities than refugee camps in other countries, the lack of education, healthcare access, and legal protection remains a significant challenge. The Rohingya endure these hardships with resilience, striving to rebuild their lives and support their communities despite the many obstacles they face in their host country.
About 1,200 Rohingya work for the past 3 years on what is the largest concentration of Rohingya workers on any construction site in Malaysia. Most are single men that arrived in Malaysia during the past 4 years through human traffickers, less than 10% are registered with UNHCR exposing them to abuse and no protection. Desa Ku in Kedai, Malaysia, June 2017
A Rohingya refugee communicating with family back home in Myanmar. Klang Valley, Malaysia, June 2016
Solim was in jail from March 2017 until July 2018 after being arrested by immigration police on a construction site. During the same period 14 members of his family got massacred in Shut Pyin near Rathedaung in Myanmar. His mother and two smaller brothers survived and are in the camps in Bangladesh since September 2017. was arrested by immigration police on the construction site. He speaks here for the first time with his mother after having lost all track of his family. At a young age of 14 he was trafficked into Malaysia. Many Rohingya victims of trafficking work on construction sites, often undocumented and at the mercy exploitation and immigration police. Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia, November 2018
Family room in a building hosting Rohingya refugees working in the nearby wholesale market. Klang, Malaysia, June 2016
Rohingya contruction workers coming to get information on how to register as refugees with the UNHCR. About 1,200 Rohingya work for the past 3 years on what is the largest concentration of Rohingya workers on any construction site in Malaysia. Most are single men that arrived in Malaysia during the past 4 years through human traffickers, less than 10% are registered with UNHCR exposing them to abuse and no protection. Desa Ku in Kedai, Malaysia, June 2017
Barracks on an isolated construction site where 40 Rohingya refugees work. Lunas, Kedah, Malaysia, November 2018
Family room in a building hosting Rohingya refugees working in the nearby wholesale market. Klang, Malaysia, June 2016
Neighbourhood where numerous Rohingya refugees live in Klang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 2016
Collective housing for Rohingya refugees working in the wholesale market. Klang Valley, Malaysia, October 2016
Rohingya contruction workers coming to get information on how to register as refugees with the UNHCR. Desa Ku construction site in Kedai Province, Malaysia, June 2017
Rohingya refugee trafficed by boat in 2015, had legs paralaysed due to restraint space on the boat and lack of food. Klang Valley, Malaysia, June 2016
Food stall along a junction road, owned by a Rohingya family preparing speciality dishes from back home. Kuantan, Malaysia, June 2017
Collective housing for Rohingya refugees working in the wholesale market. Klang Valley, Malaysia, June 2016
Rohingya woman at her temporary new home. Klang, Malaysia, June 2016
Tea stall run by a Rohingya family in Seberang Perai near Penang, Malaysia, January 2017
Religious class, Medresa for stateless Rohingya children in Klang, Malaysia, November 2016
Stateless Rohingya living in Kuantan, Malaysia, October 2016
Rohingya refugee working in the nearby wholesale market in Klang, Malaysia, October 2016
Rohingya children at the coranic school, Kepala Batas near Penang, Malaysia, January 2017
Stateless Rohingya refugee girl taking her lunch, Klang, Malaysia, October 2016
A Rohingya girl in exile in Seberang Perai near Penang in Malaysia, January 2017
Rohingya grils at the medresa which is the only from of education available for them in Malaysia. Klang Valley, November 2016
Rohingya students at the local coranic school, Klang Valley, Malaysia, December 2016
Rohingya daily labour working for a contractor responsible to keep the city drainage and sewage clean. They are paid around 6 usd per day, which is well below the daily wage that would otherwise be paid to somebody having ID documents. Being stateless and having no official ID documents, most Rohingya living in third countries are extremely vulnerable to abuse and underpaid jobs. Kuantan in Pahang, Malaysia, June 2017
A Rohingya boy obtaining his UNHCR pre-registration document, a first step before obtaining the UNHCR refugee card. Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia, January 2017
Rohingya family running a grocery shop and tea stall in Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia, January 2017
Rohingya construction workers relaxing and playing a foot/volley-ball game after work. Desa Ku construction site, Kedai, Malaysia, June 2017
Stateless Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Penang, Malaysia, January 2017
Rohingya construction worker taking a break, Penang island, Malaysia, January 2017
Children reading poems written in Rohingya language during a commemoration ceremonie in Ampang. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 2017
Barracks on an isolated construction site where 40 Rohingya refugees work. Lunas, Kedah, Malaysia, November 2018
Rohingya refugee girl from Myanmar living with her family in Pahang Province near the city of Kuantan, Malaysia, June 2017
