DIASPORA ROHINGYA DI MALAYSIA: PENGEKALAN IDENTITI DAN SURVIVAL MASYARAKAT MINORITI

The Rohingyas in Myanmar (Burma) are the most discriminated and persecuted people. Despite the fact that the Rohingyas have maintain a continuous existence for several centuries, the junta has denied their citizenship rights claiming that they are illegal settlers from nearby Bangladesh. The Rohingya’s diaspora or the huge scale migration of the Rohingyas which took place after the independence of Burma (Myanmar) is related to various complex historical, political and identity reasons. The continuing waves of migration brought the Rohingyas to Malaysia by the end of 1980s. Library sources provide an overview of the identity and minority crisis of these communities from 1962 to 2000. Problems that arose because of their identity as refugees and their survival as a Muslim minority community from Myanmar are also discussed. These findings are based on previous research, experts on Rohingya issue and the Rohingya communities in Malaysia. This research demonstrates that the ambiguous status of Rohingyas prove to be a serious complication in their daily lives. Recognition from the ruling government in Myanmar is much needed to overcome the identity crisis of disenfranchised Rohingya minority while Islamic body such as OIC must give equal attention to the Rohingya rather than just focusing on the Palestine and other Middle East issues.