Malaysia’s decades‑long record of offering refuge to Rohingya fleeing persecution is both notable and unsustainable as a lone response. Yet without formal protection frameworks, durable legal status, or predictable burden‑sharing, refugees remain vulnerable to exploitation, sudden policy shifts, and local backlash. Multilateral institutions can coordinate a regional protection framework to manage mixed movements, standardise reception procedures, and share data and resources so that no single country bears a disproportionate cost. In hindsight, Malaysia should consider establishing a comprehensive, coherent system to manage all issues related to refugees and asylum seekers. Fifty years after the arrival of Vietnamese refugees, Malaysia remains a destination for people fleeing conflict, persecution, and statelessness.