Malaysia Detains 100 Rohingya Refugees After Evictions in Penang

Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers, including women and children, on July 27, 2026. The group had gathered and camped outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur to seek resettlement assistance after being driven from their homes in Penang on the previous Sunday.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim directed the Royal Malaysia Police, the Immigration Department, and Kuala Lumpur City Hall to take strict action to maintain public order and traffic flow. He warned that any individual without valid travel documents or permits would be held in immigration custody, asserting that all individuals in the country are obliged to obey national laws.

While the refugees reported forced evictions driven by a surge in online hate speech and disinformation since May, officials in Penang disputed these claims. Anuar Abdul Rahman, the Seberang Perai Utara district police chief, stated the group voluntarily moved due to economic and territorial competition.

Human Rights Watch condemned the government's response, urging Malaysia to prioritize the protection of refugees who have been evicted from their homes instead of detaining them and increasing their fear.