Wikipedia

Xenophobia in Malaysia

Xenophobia in Malaysia refers to the fear or dislike of individuals or cultural groups perceived as foreign, often closely associated with racism.[1] In Malaysia, xenophobia sentiments are frequently directed at foreign workers, particularly those from countries such as Bangladesh and Indonesia.[2][3] There is also notable xenophobia towards individuals from neighbouring Singapore and Indonesia. Additionally, discrimination has been reported against people of African descent and those from East Malaysia. It is observed that xenophobic attitudes are more prevalent in Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia) than in East Malaysia.[4]

By states

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Penang

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In 2014, the Penang state government conducted a referendum that resulted in a ban on foreigners cooking local cuisines.[5] The law has been criticised by foreign nationals[6] and prominent local figures, including the well-known chef Redzuawan Ismail, who expressed opposition to the ruling.[7][better source needed]

Johor

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In Johor, there are frequent complaints regarding Singaporeans who cross the border to take advantage of Malaysia’s lower prices, which are due to the weaker Malaysian ringgit compared to the Singaporean dollar. Local residents often blame Singaporean visitors for driving up prices in Johor, particularly in Johor Bahru. Consequently, Singaporeans visiting Johor have occasionally been targeted by criminals, especially for offences such as motor vehicle theft and snatch theft, as Singaporean vehicles are easily identifiable by their distinct licence plates.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "International Migration, Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia" (PDF). International Labour Office; International Organization for Migration; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. August 2001. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2019.
  2. ^ International Labour Organization (December 18, 2019). Public attitudes towards migrant workers in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (PDF). ISBN 9789220314289. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Uproar over intake of Bangladeshi workers exposes rampant xenophobia in Malaysia". asiancorrespondent.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  4. ^ "NYT: Malaysia has xenophobia towards Africans". Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  5. ^ migration (24 October 2014). "Penang to ban foreign cooks at hawker stalls in bid to safeguard food heritage". The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Penang bans foreign cooks at hawker stalls - Poskod Malaysia". 28 October 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Penang bans foreign cooks at hawker stalls". ifonlysingaporeans.blogspot.my. 2014-10-27. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  8. ^ Alkhatib, Shaffiq (4 November 2016). "'It was the longest 10 minutes of my life': Singaporean bashed and robbed on highway in Johor". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 19 June 2022.

Further reading

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  • Tan Zi Hao. (2020). Xenophobic Malaysia, Truly Asia: metonym for the invisible. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 21(4), 601–613. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649373.2020.1835101
  • TAYEB, AZMIL, and POR HEONG HONG. “Xenophobia and COVID-19 Aid to Refugee and Migrant Communities in Penang.” Contemporary Southeast Asia, vol. 43, no. 1, 2021, pp. 77–82. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/27035527.
  • Deivasagayam, A.D. (2023). Political and Social Deglobalisation in Malaysia: Discrimination Against Migrants and Refugees During the Covid-19 Pandemic. In: Ying Hooi, K., Ganesan, K., Govindasamy, A.R. (eds) Social and Political Deglobalisation. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6823-7_8
  • Spaan, E., Van Naerssen, T. and Kohl, G. (2002), Re-imagining Borders: Malay Identity and Indonesian Migrants in Malaysia. Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 93: 160-172. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9663.00192
  • Crush, J., & Ramachandran, S. (2010). Xenophobia, International Migration and Development. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 11(2), 209–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452821003677327


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