4,719 Rohingya among detainees in Malaysia, says Saifuddin

Arakan Now | 30 August 2025

Malaysia is holding 7,453 Myanmar nationals in immigration detention as of July 6, 2025, including 4,719 Rohingya, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, reported The Star.

He also confirmed that none of the detainees possess UNHCR cards.

When Arakan Now contacted a Rohingya youth activist who resides in Malaysia, he replied:

"Many Rohingya remain in detention for long periods, in some cases reportedly from several months to as many as eight years, with families often unaware of their exact whereabouts. The Minister of Home Affairs has stated that 4,719 Rohingya are currently in detention centres. However, looking at the number of families who continue to search and yearn for their loved ones, the actual figure is likely to be much higher. This ongoing uncertainty has caused immense suffering, especially for relatives in the refugee camps of Bangladesh who wait anxiously to hear even a single word from those detained.

International human rights standards, including guidance from UNHCR, state that detention of refugees should be a measure of last resort. People who flee persecution and violence seek safety and dignity, not years behind bars. The Rohingya have already endured serious human rights violations, and prolonged detention only deepens their trauma.

Neighbouring countries have a humanitarian responsibility to provide protection and care rather than long-term detention, reflecting both regional values of compassion and international commitments to human rights."