This snapshot – a deliverable under the PRRiA project – documents the experience of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, shedding light on protection risks that negatively impact their safety and well-being. This snapshot is one of a series that focuses on Rohingya journeys and experiences in Southeast Asia, with the key objective of contributing to building a solid evidence base to inform advocacy and protection programming for Rohingya refugees in the region.

Key findings

• Almost one-third of total respondents (28%) reported having encountered risks or threats to their safety while in Malaysia.

• Arrest and detention were reported as the biggest risks (by 80% who encountered risks or threats), followed by exploitation in the workplace (37%).

• Among respondents who encountered risks or threats to their safety, 94% reported feeling anxious and depressed, and 67% felt scared to move freely outside their houses. Limited support services were available. Only 6% of the respondents who encountered risks or threats to their safety were able to access help for these issues.

• Respondents were engaged in precarious employment and susceptible to exploitation. Three-quarters of respondents who had an income were engaged in casual or occasional work, and 87% had no work contract.

• The most common needs reported by respondents were access to documentation, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and education.