Covid-19 pandemic: a demand for Malaysia to support refugees under international and domestic law

• Main Authors: Ab Hamid, Zuraini, Mohd Kamal, Mohd Hisham
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Yijun Institute of International Law 2022
• Subjects: K Law (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/98106/7/98106_Covid-19%20pandemic%20a%20demand%20for%20Malaysia.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/98106/13/98106_Covid-19%20pandemic%20a%20demand%20for%20Malaysia_SCOPUS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/98106/; http://journal.yiil.org/home/pdf/publications/2022_15_1_pdf/jeail_v15n1_03.pdf

The WHO reported the Covid-19 outbreak infected 486,761,597 people, involving 6,142,735 deaths worldwide as of 1 April 2022. This contagious disease has spread rapidly throughout the world, including Malaysia. Since the outbreak in Malaysia began in March 2020, the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been implemented nationwide, leaving a significant impact on its citizens, non-citizens, as well as refugees. There is some exploitation of refugees, where enforcement officers are targeting them for criminal offences. Stakeholders claimed the Malaysian government did not provide any assistance to refugees during the pandemic, including health care and economy. This article examines Malaysia’s responsibilities as a host country to refugees during the Covid-19 outbreak. The Malaysian government is proposed to continuously support refugees on humanitarian grounds based on the country’s economic development capabilities. This paper will look into the current situation of the Refugees in Malaysia; discuss the challenges that the Refugees in Malaysia are facing; analyse the legal framework governing the status of refugees; and check the responsibility Malaysia should assume as a host country.