Help Us Make Refugee Human Rights a Reality in Malaysia
We’d like to share a story about a remarkable group of people – refugees in Malaysia – and the urgent challenges they face in their search for safety and dignity. Imagine fleeing your home, traveling thousands of miles in search of safety, only to arrive in a country where you have no legal recognition. For many forcibly displaced persons, Malaysia was their only option. However, since Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, thousands of people are left without legal status, and unable to work or access basic services like healthcare and education.
Despite this, Malaysia hosts nearly 200,000 refugees, primarily from Myanmar, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Syria. Many face exploitation, detention, and poverty in their daily lives.
Since 2014, Asylum Access Malaysia has supported people seeking asylum as they overcome these challenges. Our work ensures that, despite the odds, refugees can access their rights and protections.
We assist with individual legal cases, help refugees appeal their asylum rejections, and advocate for a comprehensive legal framework for refugees in the country. We fight for fair working conditions for those stuck in informal labor and have successfully won cases in labor courts, setting important legal precedents in the region.
This year alone, our dedicated team has provided direct legal assistance to 1,440 refugees. Through workshops and outreach, we equipped over 2,400 people with vital information about their rights and protections.
But our work is far from over. Refugees in Malaysia still face long asylum processes, limited access to healthcare, and the ongoing threat of indefinite detention and deportation. Our ability to continue advocating alongside them and providing critical services depends on the solidarity of people like you.
Your gift will allow us to secure further legal protections for refugees. It will also send a strong message of support to those rebuilding their futures under some of the most difficult circumstances.
Please consider donating today. Together, we can ensure that refugees in Malaysia receive the legal assistance and protection they need to build safer, more secure lives.
Over 3,600 people benefitted from the work of our dedicated team in Malaysia, including free legal assistance and community outreach programs
We filed 14 cases with labor courts on behalf of refugee clients, building on the legal precedents we secured through our advocacy
We brought Malaysia’s unjust treatment of refugee women and children to the attention of the international community through key UN oversight mechanisms
We equip refugees with the legal tools, knowledge, and skills to advocate for their rights and navigate complex systems. By fostering refugee-led programs, we support protection, advocacy, and active community involvement, amplifying their voices in the pursuit of justice
Siva Manickam, Director of Operations at Asylum Access Malaysia
Growing up as a gay man in a place where being openly LGBTQ+ was met with violence, Elias* had to carefully conceal his identity. When his orientation was discovered, he suffered physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and was subjected to conversion therapy. Elias escaped to Malaysia, where, in the absence of legal status, he had limited access to work, healthcare, and basic rights. We helped him find pathways to security and belonging through our legal services and community support.
