FMT Reporters: Rights group condemns anti-Rohingya petition
Pusat Komas says the petition is filled with misinformation that could lead to discrimination against the Rohingya community.
PETALING JAYA:
Human rights group Pusat Komas has condemned an online petition which it says has sparked a surge in hostility towards Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.
Pusat Komas said the petition on change.org, created by one “Aku Anak Malaysia”, is filled with misinformation that could lead to discrimination against the Rohingya community.
To date, the petition, put up last week, has garnered more than 280,000 signatures.
Pusat Komas said the petition has violated change.org’s community guidelines as the platform prohibits hateful or discriminatory content as well as content containing misleading and unsubstantiated claims.
One such claim is that the influx of Rohingya refugees has strained the country’s resources, infrastructure, and social services.
Pusat Komas said such claims were misleading and contributed to harmful narratives.
“There is no data to substantiate the scale of this perception, especially considering that the Rohingya community makes up approximately 0.4% of Malaysia’s population,” it said in a statement.
It said such narratives deliberately ignored the community’s contributions to the economy despite their vulnerable and often exploitative living conditions.
While the petition does not explicitly call for violence against the community, Pusat Komas said, it is being circulated by those calling for harm against refugees and their homes.
“This cannot be ignored,” it said.
Pusat Komas called on change.org to immediately remove the petition and ensure its platform is not used to facilitate hate, discrimination, or incitement against vulnerable communities.
It urged Malaysians to reject what it described as propaganda dehumanising refugees, and to remain informed, compassionate, and responsible in public discourse.
It said hate must not be normalised as public opinion.
Pusat Komas said the Rohingya community in Malaysia is a result of “genocidal acts by the Myanmar government, including violence and killings”.
At the same time, it said, their lack of citizenship leaves the community highly vulnerable and in need of protection.
“Public discussions about refugees must be grounded in accurate information, not harmful stereotypes or false claims that portray vulnerable communities as threats,” it said.
