Ever wondered what life is like for migrant and refugee children in Malaysia? For many, life here is anything but easy. Some include challenges we can’t even imagine —no school, no healthcare, and sometimes no place to call home.
Now, picture this: You’re six years old in a foreign country. Your parents brought you to Malaysia, hoping for a better life. However, instead of feeling welcomed, you’re stuck feeling out of place, and your world shrinks with every closed door. It’s confusing, it’s scary. Will Malaysia ever feel like somewhere you belong?
On this International Day of Migrants, let’s talk about how we can do better. It’s time to step up and protect the rights of all children, regardless of where they come from. Malaysia is home to some 408,000 migrant and refugee children according to a EU-UNICEF Fact Sheet. The real number? Likely higher. Many migrant and refugee children in Malaysia don’t have official records. These children are often invisible, left behind in the shadows of a system that’s supposed to protect them.
Who are these invisible children?
Children migrate to Malaysia for different reasons. Some arrive with parents seeking jobs to escape poverty and hardship. Others, like the Rohingya, are fleeing war, violence, and persecution. Climate change and disasters force some families to leave in search of a safer life. And tragically, conflict or poverty drives the trafficking of some girls or forces them into early marriages.
Here’s the thing: Malaysia isn’t part of the 1951 Refugee Convention. This means refugee children are often treated just like undocumented migrants. They don’t get the legal rights or protection they desperately need.
Many people in Malaysia treat migrant and refugee children as if they don’t matter, even though these children have the same rights as every other child. As a result, society excludes them, forgets them, and neglects their needs as a result. Imagine growing up feeling excluded in the only country you know.
The daily struggles
Life for migrant and refugee children in Malaysia is filled with challenges:
1) Locked up for no reason
Migrant and refugee children in Malaysia often get caught in tough immigration laws. In fact, our detention centres hold more than 1,400 children, including babies, many unaccompanied or separated. These centres are unsafe and unhygienic – no place for a child.
2) No identity, no rights!
Imagine not being able to go to school because you don’t have the right papers. Or getting sick but avoiding the hospital because your parents fear being arrested. Many migrant children don’t have birth certificates, putting them at risk of statelessness. Without legal identity, they can’t attend public schools and may not be able to access healthcare. That’s their reality.
3) Child labour and exploitation:
Migrant children in places like Sabah’s plantations work in dangerous jobs to support their families. This not only damages their health but also disrupts their education, keeping them trapped in a cycle of poverty.
4) Social stigma and discrimination:
Here’s the hard truth: migrant and refugee children in Malaysia don’t just deal with laws; they also face social stigma. For instance, people often blame refugees, especially the Rohingya, for “stealing jobs” or “not belonging”. This xenophobia makes it harder for them to feel accepted.
Building a fairer future for all
What can we do to change this? Here are some ways to help migrant and refugee children in Malaysia:
End Child Detention: No child should ever be locked up. Foster care or community-based living arrangements offer better alternatives.
Open Schools to All: Education is a right, not a privilege. Let’s create spaces where migrant and refugee children can learn and grow.
Accessible Healthcare: Healthcare should be affordable and accessible for everyone, regardless of immigration status. Migrant and refugee children and their families must be able to access healthcare, especially during medical emergencies, without fear of arrest.
Safe Homes: Migrant and refugee families need safe, clean homes. We can advocate for better housing standards to ensure they aren’t living in overcrowded, unsafe conditions.
End Statelessness: Malaysia should register and recognize every child born in the country. In addition, simplify birth registration processes to protect their rights and secure their future.
Fight Discrimination: We must challenge stereotypes and build more inclusive communities. Start by getting to know migrant and refugee children and their families.
Why it matters
Every child, including migrant and refugee children in Malaysia, deserves to feel valued, safe, and included, no exceptions. If we truly want a fair and compassionate society, we can’t just fight for our own rights. We must fight for theirs too.
Let’s support each other, show empathy, and work towards a Malaysia where every child can feel at home. After all, we’re all human, and everyone deserves kindness, respect, and the opportunity to reach their full potential. Together, we can make a difference for migrant and refugee children in Malaysia; one step at a time.
READ >> It’s 2020 and modern slavery still exists in Malaysia
