Developed countries did not deliver on resettlement promises for Rohingya, says Syed Saddiq
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has been left to bear much of the burden of the Rohingya refugee crisis despite earlier promises by developed countries to take in refugees for resettlement, said Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul…
Source: The Star Malaysia · October 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 5 OCTOBER 2026 —
PETALING JAYA: Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 5) that developed countries had failed to honour their resettlement pledges, leaving Malaysia to bear most of the burden of the Rohingya refugee crisis.
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He said the shortfall meant the situation had become a “ticking time bomb” that could turn into a “nuclear bomb”, with wider implications for the country’s politics and security if left unresolved, and warned that continuing inaction would strengthen human‑trafficking syndicates that exploit refugees.
According to a Sinar Harian report cited by Syed Saddiq, developed countries that had previously pledged to assist with resettlement had not taken in a proportionate number of refugees. He added that the number of Rohingya in Malaysia continued to rise, with the official figure standing at 130,000 and the unofficial figure exceeding 200,000. “This shows that promises have not been fulfilled.
Malaysia has ended up absorbing all the problems but we are doing it alone while others remain happy,” he said. “It is as if we are the only ones who have to solve this problem,” he remarked during the debate.
Syed Saddiq also stressed that Malaysia had previously been promised it would serve only as a temporary location for documentation before refugees were sent to developed countries, and could no longer be expected to deal with the issue alone.
He warned that allowing the situation to persist would indirectly incentivise smugglers, saying, “If the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) do not act firmly, we are indirectly providing an incentive for smugglers to continue bringing thousands or even tens of thousands of people to Malaysia.”
Syed Saddiq’s remarks highlight the strain on Malaysia’s resources and security apparatus, noting that the unresolved refugee burden could fuel political tensions and provide fertile ground for illicit networks.
He called on developed countries to fulfil their original resettlement commitments and for Malaysian maritime agencies to take firm action to deter further smuggling ventures.