Discrimination perceived by child refugees in Malaysia: from the views of representatives from refugees’ community service centres and non-government service

Abstract

ABSTRACT Discrimination perceived by refugee children in Malaysia is seldom reported. This study used an interview method to understand the types of discrimination perceived by refugee children in Malaysia. Eight representatives from different refugees’ community service centers and non-government service centers were recruited by using the purposive sampling method. Three sources of discrimination as perceived by refugee children were identified from the results: education, health care and locals and other fellow Myanmar refugees. It is recommended that more programs be conducted to create awareness among members of the public to understand the sources of discrimination perceived by refugee children in Malaysia. Without proper strategies to reduce discrimination, refugee children may suffer both physically and mentally, and may be a liability rather than an asset for society in future.