Asian Angle | Malaysians rethink support for Palestinian refugees after viral incidents

As Malaysia does not officially recognise the status of refugees, they were placed in a holding facility and not allowed to leave as they lacked legal documents. The Palestinians in the videos were frustrated by the lack of updates on their medical care, the inability to contact family members in Gaza, and not being allowed to leave the facility. All these uncertainties created anxiety and emotional distress to those who have endured the ongoing occupation and violence for decades.

Both videos quickly went viral and resulted in a huge drop in public support for Palestinian refugees, particularly among the Malay community, who opposed their resettlement.

This disdain is rooted in long-standing grievances over other refugees, most recently the Rohingya, whom many Malaysians blame for social issues and straining national welfare and infrastructure. Furthermore, the presence of refugees is deemed a threat to local demographics, especially when they tend to stay in Malaysia for a long time due to a lack of durable solutions.

In response, the Palestinian ambassador told other refugees to be thankful or risk being sent back. One woman involved in the viral incident released a video apologising for losing her composure after the loss of three of her children in Gaza. The government is also planning to send back some Palestinians at their own request, in a bid to assuage a now-hostile public. The foreign minister even indicated that those brought in for treatment were reluctant to leave Palestine and wanted to be sent back after treatment, maintaining their image as Palestinian defenders who do not fear death.