Malaysia

More than 4,400 Rohingya refugees attempted to make perilous boat journeys from Bangladesh or Myanmar to Malaysia in 2023, an increase of over 20 percent in comparison to 2022.

The Malaysian government’s deterrence-based policies against refugees include immigration raids and arrests, detention, discrimination, and deportation. Many children are still held in immigration detention centers with adults, despite calls for alternative accommodations. Some have been transferred to dedicated detention centers for mothers and children, but to date there is no alternative to detention. 

MSF teams work in urban refugee settings and immigration detention centers, and through fixed and mobile clinics in Penang, offering general health care, mental health support, and patient referrals to other health providers and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. Due to our efforts, hepatitis C treatment is now provided free of charge to all refugees registered with UNHCR in Malaysia. 

In the three immigration detention centers where we work, we provide medical and psychosocial care and distribute essential hygiene items, such as soap and sanitary pads. We also conduct training on medical and mental health topics for immigration officers. In 2023, our teams saw a high demand for prenatal care and family planning services.

Advocacy is a key part of our program in Malaysia, primarily through engagement with government stakeholders. We continue to oppose the detention of refugees in immigration centers and call for them to be issued with identity documents so that they can obtain health care insurance and greater protection in the country. We also advocate for free access to vaccinations for all children in Malaysia.