SHAH ALAM – A former Rohingya refugee turned activist has faced criticism from Malaysian social media users after remarks made during an awards speech in Australia, in which she highlighted Malaysia’s treatment of Rohingya children, went viral online.
Noor Azizah, who previously lived in Malaysia before resettling in Australia, drew backlash following her acceptance speech at the Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards, after clips of the event circulated on social media.
In her speech, she raised concerns over Rohingya children held in Malaysian immigration detention centres.
While some described her remarks as a call for greater protection of refugees, others accused her of presenting an unbalanced critique that failed to acknowledge Myanmar as the origin of the Rohingya crisis and Malaysia’s long-standing role in hosting refugees.
Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention but has hosted large numbers of Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar for years.
Speaking after receiving the Marie Claire Women of the Year 2025 Award in the “Voice of Now” category, Noor described the suffering of the Rohingya community.
“The world calls it the Rohingya genocide, but for us it was daily life. The sound of gunfire instead of birds. The silence of names erased from citizenship lists. The quiet burial of a people the world barely knew,” she said.
She also referred to conditions faced by Rohingya refugees in neighbouring countries.
“You might know Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand as holiday destinations for you and your family. In Malaysia today, over 2,000 Rohingya children are locked in immigration centres, growing up behind bars instead of classrooms,” she said.
The comments triggered widespread reaction in Malaysia, with users revisiting her personal background, including her earlier life as a Rohingya refugee in the country before relocating to Australia.
Some Malaysians defended the country’s role in providing refuge despite limited legal obligations, while others said responsibility for the crisis should remain focused on Myanmar and the international community.
One social media user, Ayuni Salleh, said advocacy efforts should be directed at Myanmar.
“Instead of constantly criticising Malaysia, perhaps your voice would be better used urging Myanmar to take responsibility for its own people.
Malaysia was never meant to be a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis. For decades, Malaysia has carried a humanitarian burden that should have been addressed by the country of origin and the international community," the user said.
Another user, Ratu Balkis, said Malaysia had already provided substantial assistance to Rohingya refugees.
“Blame your own country instead of blaming Malaysia. We have been patient for years,” she said, adding that Malaysia had spent millions of ringgit annually on healthcare services for refugees.
Another commenter, Deyanna, said public frustration was rooted in long-standing burden-sharing concerns.
“The Rohingya have squeezed out every last bit of Malaysian kindness and generosity and repaid it with scorn and accusations,” she said.
Human rights groups continue to describe Rohingya refugees as stateless and persecuted following violence in Myanmar, while Malaysia has long argued that responsibility for the crisis must be shared more broadly by the international community.