STRAINED BY CLIMATE AND REFUGEE MIGRATION: Malaysia’s Challenges and the Urgent Need for ASEAN’s Collective Response

Malaysia has become a major refugee-hosting country in ASEAN, facing considerable strain as it shoulders a disproportionate burden of refugee protection despite the absence of a formal legal framework for refugee status. This paper examines the mounting challenges Malaysia faces at the intersection of increasing climate-induced displacement and the vulnerabilities of these populations. Malaysia is also struggling with severe climate change impacts, such as flooding, while managing growing refugee populations. Recurrent climate threats, notably severe monsoon flooding which disproportionately impacts refugees and asylum seekers residing in flood-prone, affordable areas, exacerbate these vulnerabilities. This research investigates the interplay between humanitarian protection and climate vulnerability, highlighting the precarious livelihoods and housing conditions of displaced individuals in Malaysia, and how the absence of legal recognition compounds their susceptibility to climate extremes, creating a dual crisis. Analyzing the dynamic relationship between climate threats, refugee vulnerability, and the resultant strain on Malaysia, this study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate action and a collective response within ASEAN to mitigate these challenges. Furthermore, it includes a comparative analysis of Malaysia’s challenges with other ASEAN countries. By examining the causal links between these factors and analyzing Malaysia's current situation, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the necessity for robust regional and national frameworks. These frameworks must not only address the immediate needs of displaced populations but also prioritize long-term climate resilience and sustainable development strategies across the ASEAN region.