Rohingya Activist Faces Backlash Over Malaysia Refugee Remarks, Called "Ungrateful"

A former Rohingya refugee and activist has come under criticism from Malaysian social media users after remarks she made at the Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards in Australia about Malaysia's treatment of Rohingya children went viral online.

Noor Azizah, who previously lived in Malaysia before resettling in Australia, spoke about the experiences of the Rohingya community and raised concerns about Rohingya children being held in Malaysian immigration detention centres.

Noor's remarks drew significant backlash from Malaysians, with some expressing disappointment over Marie Claire's decision to honour her, while others argued that her criticism should be directed primarily at Myanmar.

Nonetheless, some netizens sympathised with Noor's remarks, saying they reflected genuine concerns, while others expressed sadness over the negative comments directed at Rohingya refugees.

The controversy comes amid longstanding tensions among some Malaysians towards Rohingya refugees, a debate that has periodically resurfaced online over the years.

In June 2026, a viral petition calling for Rohingya refugees to be expelled from Malaysia sparked warnings from rights groups over rising hate speech and growing hostility towards the community.

The petition, which has gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures, cites concerns over pressure on public resources, infrastructure and security.

The petition was later taken down from the platform, but a new petition has since emerged and has garnered around 400 signatures at the time of writing. It calls for Malaysia to prioritise Malaysians in policy decisions.

This has led Eric Paulsen, formerly Malaysia's representative at the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, to call on the Malaysian government to step up public education efforts on the plight of the Rohingya.

Paulson also cited, "It is worth recalling that then prime minister Najib Razak once held a rally in solidarity with the Rohingya in 2016, a recognition at the highest political level that their suffering demands a compassionate response. That spirit must not be lost," he said in a statement.

The Rohingya crisis refers to the long-running persecution and displacement of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar's Rakhine State, which escalated in 2017 when a military crackdown forced hundreds of thousands to flee, mainly to Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries.

The United Nations has described the violence as having genocidal intent, while Myanmar has denied the allegations.

Malaysia, although not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, has become one of the key destinations for Rohingya refugees due to humanitarian considerations, regional migration routes, and limited resettlement options elsewhere.

Refugees in Malaysia, however, do not have formal legal status and face restrictions on work and access to services.

The Convention was originally created in response to mass displacement in Europe following World War II and has since become the primary global framework for the protection of refugees.