‘They are crying’: Refugees in Malaysia in fear amid Myanmar deportation

What the report says

Malaysia’s recent deportation of nearly 1,500 refugees from Myanmar has triggered fresh fear among the country’s large refugee population, especially Rohingya communities and other Myanmar ethnic minorities. In the Al Jazeera report published Oct. 2, 2026, refugee leaders said they were being flooded with anxious calls after the government carried out the removals as part of a broader plan to send back at least 5,000 people under a deal with Myanmar’s military authorities.

The article says the deportations came amid intensified immigration raids on refugee communities. Rights advocates and refugee organizations described a sharp rise in arrests and detentions this year, with more than 50,000 refugees reportedly detained and thousands of enforcement operations conducted nationwide. Malaysia hosts more than 215,000 refugees overall, including nearly 194,000 from Myanmar, according to UNHCR figures cited in the report.

Al Jazeera also reported growing concern that online anti-refugee content and misinformation are fueling hostility toward Rohingya and other Myanmar refugees. Community leaders said some raid locations appeared to match areas highlighted in viral social media videos. The government did not respond to the outlet’s request for comment on that alleged link.

The story adds that aid groups are facing reduced capacity after funding cuts, including losses linked to the closure of USAID and broader UNHCR retrenchment. Human rights groups and Malaysia’s SUHAKAM commission warned that returning people to Myanmar could expose them to serious harm, citing ongoing violence there and the presence of children among those deported.