In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Zabi, a refugee from Afghanistan, is facing challenges accessing medical care and finding stable employment. Despite working as a housekeeper at a local hotel, he lives in uncertainty due to the lack of legal protection for refugees in Malaysia. Like many others in similar situations, Zabi struggles to make ends meet on a monthly basis, often resorting to eating instant noodles as his primary source of sustenance.
The legal status of refugees in Malaysia remains ambiguous, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and without access to essential services such as education and healthcare. While the UNHCR provides some support, it does not offer formal legal protection. The lack of recognition of their rights makes it difficult for refugees to find legitimate work, resulting in many engaging in “difficult, dangerous, and dirty” jobs that locals tend to avoid.
The Malaysian government has shown limited flexibility in allowing refugees to work, with only a small number of Syrians and Rohingya refugees permitted to work legally in certain sectors in the past. However, broader policy changes are needed to address the challenges faced by refugees like Zabi. Refugee advocacy groups are urging the government to take the lead in implementing policies that would recognize the skills and experience of individual refugees, allowing them to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development.
Despite the efforts of advocacy groups and the UNHCR, the situation for refugees in Malaysia remains uncertain. Without the prospect of policy changes in the near future, refugees continue to face adversity and struggle to build a stable life in their adopted country.