MORE Muslim expatriates are choosing to live in Malaysia after learning about its anti-Israel stance, the South China Morning Post report.

The report states that Muslims, particularly from Canada and the UK, are attracted to Malaysia’s “pro-Palestinian stance and liberating environment for believers.” Affordability and the “friendlier” golden visa through the Malaysia My Second Home programme adds adds to to the attraction.

A couple interviewed in the report said they moved from Ontario to Malaysia after discovering that the latter’s position about Israel’s six-month assault on Gaza was “completely opposite” to that of Canada. Muhammad William, his wife Sana, and their three children now live in Kuala Lumpur and manage a YouTube channel with 1.28 million subscribers.

Sana said, “We continuously watched our leaders in Canada making statements in support of Israel, and we couldn’t bear the fact that our tax dollars were contributing to this.” She added, “We see the Palestinian flag everywhere; they boycotted companies that supported Israel. It is the simple fact that Malaysia is not afraid to stand up and say: ‘Hey, we support Palestine and the Palestinian cause.’”

Other Muslim content creators, such as British national Saira Hayati and Canadian couple Mahdi and Sagal, who are on Instagram and TikTok, have also chosen Malaysia as their new home.

Another Canadian-Muslim, Shadia Yousuf, said she was considering making the leap to Malaysia, like many in her circle.

The report said expatriates are drawn to Malaysia’s weather, beaches, food, lower cost of living, visa offers, and reputation as the most developed of Southeast Asia’s larger nations.

However, the report also addresses the negative aspects of Malaysia for foreigners. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Olalere, from Nigeria, said he was leaving after 11 years in Malaysia due to daily racism and discrimination.

“I came for college and have been working since I graduated,” said Emmanuel, who reviews tech on his YouTube channel, Geekception. “In other countries, I would have been a citizen by now, yet here I am still on a visa.”

He recounted experiences of being “stopped everywhere” by the police, enduring constant stares from locals, and being called “the N-word” by a woman on a bus. – April 6, 2024.