A Refugee Discourse in Malaysia: Issues and Concerns From Human Security Perspective
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Abstract
Abstract: The influx of illegal immigrants (PATI) [or 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 has 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 is 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 found that it is very timely for the government to formulate a more transparent and proactive policy to deal with this issue effectively.
Keywords: Rohingya refugees, non-traditional security, human security, Malaysia,
DOI: 10.17576/sinergi.SI1.2023.03
Article information: Submission date: 6 April 2021; Acceptance date: 13 November 2022; Publication date: 31 Mac 2023.
Declaration and acknowledgement: This study was supported by the Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA). We want to take this opportunity to express our most profound appreciation to CENTHRA for its continuous support and generosity and the valuable advice from CENTHRA’s Founder, Mr Azril Mohd Amin. We would also like to show our gratitude to SINERGI’s anonymous reviewers and their constructive feedback in improving the quality of the manuscript.
Abstrak: Kebanjiran pendatang tanpa izin (PATI) [atau pelarian] adalah salah satu isu keselamatan bukan tradisional yang telah lama melanda rantau Asia Tenggara. Malaysia juga tidak terkecuali. Meskipun Malaysia tidak menjadi ahli bagi mana-mana konvensyen berkaitan pelarian antarabangsa, termasuk Konvensyen Pelarian 1951 dan Protokol 1967, negara ini mempunyai 185,920 pelarian dan pencari suaka berdaftar sehingga Ogos 2022 (UNHCR 2022). Kerajaan telah menjadikan dasar tidak bertulis untuk pelarian dilayan atas dasar kemanusiaan. Oleh itu, kajian ini bermatlamat untuk meneroka isu dan kebimbangan pelarian Rohingya di Malaysia dari perspektif keselamatan insan. Penyelidikan ini dijalankan menggunakan kaedah kualitatif dengan menggunakan sumber primer yang diperoleh daripada temu bual mendalam, pemerhatian secara langsung melalui penyertaan dalam seminar, dan kajian lapangan di kawasan terpilih di Utara Semenanjung Malaysia, khususnya di Kedah. Dapatan kajian merumuskan bahawa terdapat lima aspek kehidupan yang menjadi cabaran kepada kehidupan pelarian di Malaysia iaitu hak untuk bekerja, pendidikan, dokumentasi, keselamatan (akibat sentimen xenofobia), dan penjagaan kesihatan. Bidang-bidang ini adalah asas kepada kehidupan pelarian, justeru hasil kajian ini mendapati sudah tiba masanya bagi pihak kerajaan menggubal dasar yang lebih telus dan proaktif untuk menangani isu ini dengan berkesan.
Kata kunci: pelarian Rohingya, keselamatan bukan tradisional, keselamatan insan, Malaysia
DOI: 10.17576/sinergi.SI1.2023.03
Maklumat artikel: Tarikh Penghantaran: 6 April 2021; Tarikh penerimaan: 13 November 2022; Tarikh penerbitan: 31 Mac 2023.
Penghargaan dan pengisytiharan: Kajian ini disokong oleh Pusat Penyelidikan dan Advokasi Hak Asasi Manusia (CENTHRA). Kami ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk merakamkan penghargaan yang paling mendalam kepada CENTHRA atas sokongan dan kemurahan hati yang berterusan serta nasihat berharga daripada Pengasas CENTHRA, En Azril Mohd Amin. Kami juga ingin menunjukkan rasa terima kasih kami kepada penyemak tanpa nama SINERGI dan maklum balas membina mereka dalam meningkatkan kualiti manuskrip.
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