Viral Anti-Rohingya Petition in Malaysia Sparks Hate Speech Warnings

Viral Anti-Rohingya Petition in Malaysia Sparks Hate Speech Warnings
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Human rights groups in Malaysia have warned of a dangerous surge in hostility toward Rohingya refugees after an online petition demanding their expulsion gathered over 424,000 signatures.

Launched on Change.org, the petition claims the stateless minority strains public infrastructure and creates security risks. Its viral growth has been accompanied by intensifying social media backlash and the appearance of physical “No Rohingya” banners. Crucially, advocacy groups report that explicit online calls to harm refugees and attack their homes have been circulated alongside links to the campaign.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) condemned the hostile rhetoric, urging citizens to remember that refugees do not move for economic gain, but flee severe persecution and violence in Myanmar. While groups like the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement acknowledged local anxieties over jobs and security, they stressed that public concern must not normalize collective hatred.

Malaysia currently hosts over 126,000 registered Rohingya. However, because the country is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, these individuals lack formal legal status or the right to work, leaving them highly vulnerable to this growing public backlash.