Kuala Lumpur: Rohingya refugees living in Malaysia continue to face difficulties practising their faith freely and rebuilding their lives, despite escaping persecution in Myanmar. Their uncertain legal status leaves them vulnerable to detention and restricts their access to education, healthcare, places of worship and fair employment, making it difficult to rebuild the community ties they once had at home.
Malaysia does not legally recognise refugees, leaving thousands of Rohingya without secure residency rights. Although many have found safety in the country, they continue to live with uncertainty over their future and fear that everyday activities, including visiting a mosque, could expose them to immigration enforcement.
According to a report carried by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the challenges go beyond legal and economic insecurity. Some Rohingya refugees face discrimination when trying to worship at local mosques, while others struggle to preserve the religious traditions and community relationships that shaped their lives in Myanmar.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that around 7 lakh Rohingya fled Myanmar following a military crackdown in 2017, crossing into neighbouring Bangladesh. Others sought refuge in Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Thailand. As of February 2026, approximately 1.26 lakh Rohingya were registered with UNHCR in Malaysia.
For many of them, escaping persecution has not meant finding a place where they can fully rebuild their lives.
Rohingya refugees face barriers to practising their faith
Nur Sadek, a Rohingya refugee who now studies law and advocates for refugee rights in Malaysia, once hoped to become an Islamic scholar. His mother had wanted him to serve as a religious leader in their village in western Myanmar.
The Rohingya are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority living mainly in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where Buddhist communities and a smaller Hindu population also reside. The region has experienced prolonged ethnic and religious tensions, with Rohingya facing discrimination and restrictions for decades.
Sadek fled Myanmar with his family in 2017 after soldiers opened fire on their community. Bullets struck the tin roof of his home, forcing the family to escape. He left with only the clothes he was wearing and has not returned since.
His experience reflects the difficult circumstances faced by many Rohingya who were forced to abandon their homes, livelihoods and social networks.
Religious freedom advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said Rohingya refugees in Malaysia cannot officially register their own places of worship, according to the PTI report.
Most therefore depend on local mosques for prayers. However, not everyone feels welcome in those spaces. Some refugees have reportedly faced discrimination, while others avoid mosques altogether because they fear being detained by immigration authorities.
CSW observed that religious solidarity does not always overcome social and cultural differences between Rohingya refugees and the local Muslim population.
“Religious solidarity is often overtaken by social and cultural differences between the two groups,” the organisation said.
The situation illustrates how sharing the same religion does not necessarily guarantee equal acceptance or a sense of belonging.
Refugees miss the religious community they left behind
Nurul Hakim, the first among his 10 siblings to leave Myanmar, fled the country in 2010. He travelled for days on foot, by car and by boat through Thailand before reaching Kuala Lumpur.
His family had not been directly attacked, but years of violence and discrimination had made life increasingly difficult for the Rohingya community.
In Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Rohingya Muslims had faced restrictions on religious gatherings, access to mosques and Islamic education. Reports by the United Nations and Amnesty International have documented the closure of mosques and limitations on communal prayers.
Hakim said he can now pray freely in Malaysia and has received support from local Muslim religious leaders. However, he has also heard accounts of Rohingya refugees being prevented from entering mosques in other parts of the country.
Rohingya Rights Response, an organisation co-founded by Sadek to monitor issues affecting refugees, has documented restrictions on religious practices. In some neighbourhoods, banners declaring that Rohingya are unwelcome have reportedly appeared outside mosques.
Even when refugees are allowed to pray, they often find it difficult to recreate the religious environment they experienced in their villages.
Sadek said many Rohingya do not have their own religious leaders conducting prayers because the mosques they attend are managed by Malay imams.
Hakim said he misses the everyday relationships that once formed part of his religious life. In Myanmar, he could pray alongside neighbours and fellow villagers, while also participating in local activities such as pulling a rickshaw and trading goods.
“There is no difference in praying at a different mosque, but there are differences with who you are praying with,” he said.
“When I was back in Myanmar and I went to pray, I could pray with my neighbours, with my villagers, and I don’t have that here.”
His remarks highlight the emotional cost of displacement. For refugees, a place of worship is not only a location for prayer but also a space where familiar relationships, shared traditions and a sense of community are maintained.
Fear of detention keeps some refugees away from mosques
For some Rohingya refugees, the fear of immigration enforcement creates a more immediate obstacle to religious participation.
Mohammed Rafique said he mostly prays at home and rarely visits a mosque because he is afraid of encountering immigration authorities.
Rafique fled Myanmar in 2009 with his wife and five children. His family remained in Bangladesh while he travelled onwards to Malaysia in search of a better life. He has not seen them since.
He now earns around 30 Malaysian ringgit, equivalent to approximately US$7.50, a day by collecting scrap materials. The income is barely enough to cover his medication and other basic expenses.
His separation from his family has been accompanied by painful personal losses. Rafique said one of the hardest moments of his life was learning that his wife had died when he could not be with her or say goodbye.
Sadek has experienced a similar loss. His mother died in Bangladesh, and he has not been able to visit her grave.
“I always wanted to do a lot of stuff, but now I just want to visit her cemetery and that has become like a dream for me,” he said.
Their experiences show how displacement can separate families for years and prevent refugees from attending important moments in the lives of loved ones. Even basic acts such as visiting a relative’s grave can become difficult when people lack secure legal status and the freedom to travel.
Rohingya advocates seek fair wages and access to services
Sadek’s organisation works to improve safety and living conditions for Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. Its activities include documenting restrictions on religious practices and raising concerns about harassment, discrimination and the treatment of refugees.
The organisation has also recorded incidents involving social media content creators who allegedly mock and demean Rohingya people.
Beyond religious freedom, Sadek advocates for fair wages and better access to healthcare and education. Many refugees struggle to secure stable employment because of their uncertain legal position, while limited access to public services makes it difficult for families to plan for the future.
The absence of secure legal recognition affects nearly every aspect of daily life. Refugees may find it difficult to obtain formal employment, access affordable medical care or enrol their children in recognised educational institutions.
These challenges can also increase their dependence on informal work, where wages and working conditions may be uncertain.
Zahidah Begum keeps her father’s religious teachings alive
For Zahidah Begum, preserving religious traditions has become an important way of maintaining a connection with the home she left behind.
Begum fled Myanmar in 2013 after experiencing religious persecution. Her father was an imam and a respected religious leader in their village. He taught Islamic studies every day from 8 am to 4 pm.
She remembers him as the person who introduced her to the Quran and taught her to understand its verses and the principles of her faith.
“I love my father because of what he did,” she said. “He is the one who raised me, who taught me everything, including the Islamic teachings.”
Her father also explained the religious practices and responsibilities that shaped their family life.
During a raid on their village, soldiers reportedly tried to arrest him. He fell and broke his leg while escaping. He later fled to Bangladesh but could not obtain the medical treatment he needed. His injury became infected, and he died.
Begum said she continues to miss him and the religious guidance he provided.
“I miss every moment of my father,” she said.
She now passes his teachings on to her two daughters by helping them pray, recite verses from the Quran and make duas, or personal supplications to God.
“I still feel the same connection to my faith that I felt back home,” she said. “Even here, I remain connected to my religion.”
Her efforts reflect how families attempt to preserve their cultural and religious identity despite displacement and the loss of familiar community structures.
Uncertain future for Rohingya families in Malaysia
The experiences of Sadek, Hakim, Rafique and Begum reveal different dimensions of the challenges facing Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. While some have found welcoming communities and opportunities to continue their religious practices, others face discrimination, fear of detention and economic insecurity.
The lack of legal recognition remains a central problem. Without secure status, refugees have limited opportunities to access formal employment, education and healthcare. Their ability to establish independent community institutions, including places of worship, is also restricted.
For families, the difficulties extend across generations. Children who cannot attend formal schools face uncertain educational prospects, while adults struggle to earn enough to meet basic needs.
Begum said her husband has difficulty working because of health problems, while her school-age children cannot attend formal classes.
“I don’t know what the future holds for us,” she said.
For the Rohingya, Malaysia has offered refuge from the persecution they experienced in Myanmar, but it has not necessarily provided the stability needed to rebuild their lives. The ability to pray, preserve religious traditions and remain connected to a community remains an important part of that struggle.
Their experiences underline that finding safety is only the beginning of recovery for displaced people. Legal recognition, protection from discrimination and access to essential services are also necessary for refugees to live with dignity and rebuild a sense of belonging.