Xenophobia in Malaysia refers to the fear or dislike of individuals or cultural groups perceived as foreign, often closely associated with racism. In Malaysia, xenophobia sentiments are frequently directed at foreign workers, particularly those from countries such as Bangladesh and Indonesia. 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.
By states Penang In 2014, the Penang state government conducted a referendum that resulted in a ban on foreigners cooking local cuisines. The law has been criticised by foreign nationals and prominent local figures, including the well-known chef Redzuawan Ismail, who expressed opposition to the ruling.
Johor 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.
See also Anti-Chinese sentiment in Malaysia Anti-Filipino sentiment in Malaysia Anti-Indian sentiment in Malaysia Racism in Malaysia
References
Further reading 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