An absolutely basic fact that determines so much of the lives of refugees in Malaysia is that they have NO legal status in this country. The Malaysian government provides no legal or administrative framework for refugees, on the basis that it sees refugees as in transit, on the way to a third (resettling) country.

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This means refugees have no right to work and children have no access to public national schools. Refugees are not allowed to own anything, including bank accounts, and are constantly vulnerable to harassment, extortion, arrest and detention. 

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The Malaysian government has given the responsibility to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to register and resettle refugees, and to look after their welfare in Malaysia.  

 

But the fact is that resettlement numbers offered by third countries like USA have not been anywhere close to meet the numbers of refugees waiting in Malaysia, meaning that thousands of refugees, including families with children, have been in Malaysia for more than 10 years, some for 30 years and more. It is a fact that most refugees in Malaysia will be here for the long-term.

 

To repeat, they are not allowed to work legally. Children are not allowed into mainstream national schools. Finding affordable healthcare is a huge challenge. Securing any protection under the law is similarly a challenge, especially in a time of increasing xenophobia and overt hatred.

 

So perhaps the biggest challenge is finding hope for the future for themselves and their children.  

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