Policy Responses of Malaysia and Indonesia to Resolve Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Comparative Studies

The national security (or state security) versus human security debate has long been debate between state and civil society in the refugee studies. The state argue that refugee influx often causes negative impacts to the host countries in economic, social and national security and consequently it is a threat. Therefore, the decision makers and the military officials within the government often try to securitize the issue of refugee by giving comments and statements in media or officially to socialize the idea that refugee is a threat that need to be kept away from the country in order to protect society. These are defined as speech act. The speech acts by securitizing actor (state) are analysed in this research. The spreading of Rohingya refugee influx in Southeast Asia has impacted the ASEAN regional security stability. ASEAN countries are the directly affected countries from the security threat caused by the Rohingya ethnic problem. This study analyses the securitization as policy responses of Indonesia and Malaysia towards Rohingya refugee and the comparative study of both policy responses.