Xenophobia in Malaysia refers to the fear or dislike of individuals or cultural groups perceived as foreign, often closely associated with racism.
[1] In Malaysia, xenophobia sentiments are frequently directed at foreign workers, particularly those from countries such as Bangladesh and Indonesia.
[4] In 2014, the Penang state government conducted a referendum that resulted in a ban on foreigners cooking local cuisines.
[5] The law has been criticised by foreign nationals[6] and prominent local figures, including the well-known chef Redzuawan Ismail, who expressed opposition to the ruling.
Consequently, Singaporeans visiting Johor have occasionally been targeted by criminals, especially for offences such as motor vehicle theft and snatch theft, as Singaporean vehicles are easily identifiable by their distinct licence plates.