Videos of Thailand Deporting Rohingya Go Viral — Malaysian Netizens: Why Can’t Malaysia Do the Same?

Two videos believed to show Thai enforcement agencies carrying out large-scale deportations of Rohingya to the Thai-Myanmar border have recently gone viral on social media, sparking heated debate among Malaysian netizens and once again highlighting the longstanding issue of Rohingya refugees stranded in the country.

Many netizens have seized the opportunity to call on the government to emulate Thailand and take tougher measures to address the problem of illegal immigrants.

The viral videos, each only about 20 seconds long, show several trucks and pickup trucks—believed to belong to Thai enforcement agencies—transporting large groups of Rohingya to border areas.

The videos quickly gained traction on Malaysian social media platforms, especially among Malay communities, with comment sections overwhelmingly calling for the government to enforce stricter actions.

Netizen Norma Dahalan questioned why Malaysia can’t do as Thailand does and deport Rohingya to their original homeland, and also criticized the international community’s silence, asking why Malaysia must bear this burden in the long term.

Netizens Mohd Azmil Mazlan and Aznor Adam went a step further by tagging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, as well as the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, and National Security Council, urging the government to "stop hesitating" and to quickly implement deportation measures similar to Thailand.

Many comments also shifted the focus to national security and sovereignty issues.

Netizen PejhaYousenie McHamart believes that when humanitarianism conflicts with national interests, the government should prioritize national sovereignty. He also expressed concern that a large number of stranded Rohingya will continue to increase social, economic, and security pressures.

Netizen Dilla DinerDash pointed out that the Rohingya issue has plagued Malaysia for years. Other countries can strictly control their borders and limit illegal entry, but only Malaysia seems unable to offer effective solutions. She believes the government must review current policies and intensify enforcement.

At the same time, some netizens worry that if the problem persists, it could escalate into a more serious social hazard in the future. Netizen RaH MathB called for heightened public vigilance, expressing concern that the cumulative population and social issues could pose even greater public safety challenges down the line.

As the videos continue to circulate online, discussions about the Rohingya issue are heating up on Malaysian social platforms. Many netizens are urging the government to heed public sentiment, re-examine current refugee and illegal immigration policies, and strengthen border enforcement to respond to the growing social concerns and anxieties.