Mohamad Jamil, Siti Nurnadilla
(2022)
‘We are not Xenophobic, but we love our Malaysia’: dissecting anti-Rohingya online discourses in the time of pandemic.
In: Malaysian Discourse Research Group (Research Talk Series), 18 February 2022, Online.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
The difficulties brought by the implementation of the cordon sanitaire in Malaysia to contain the spread of Covid-19 and the longstanding local grievances have led to an explosion of xenophobic sentiments towards Rohingya refugees in the country. The prospect of more Rohingya refugee boats arriving after hundreds were turned away (Ratcliffe, 17 April 2020) had worsened the situation. My research is motivated by the complex interplay of fear caused by the pandemic and its dynamic relation with the relevant digital affordances of expressions and its prospective resolution, i.e., building up virtual walls to “protect our own people” vis-à-vis “the Other.” In this presentation, I will particularly show how xenophobia is discursively justified through the linguistic manifestation of nationalism, e.g., ‘prioritization of national interests,’ presented as patriotism, e.g., ‘for love of Malaysia’ in the civil discourse of petition against the Rohingya refugees in Malaysia on change.org during the movement control order (MCO).
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
Download Statistics
Download Statistics