The movement of migrants fleeing wars has hit the headlines in the last few years.
The war in Syria prompted tens of thousands to risk their lives, crossing sea and land borders to find safety.
As the wars drag on, the refugees cross more borders to seek a haven to rebuild their lives.
Poor global economic conditions have led to less than hospitable conditions and no welcome in host countries, with many Europeans lobbying their governments to turn the migrants away.
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia is seen as a transit country for refugees, despite the government's failure to ratify the charter of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees on the matter
UNHCR estimates there are some 150,669 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UN refugee agency in Malaysia.
They come from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and other countries.
About a fifth of the refugees in Malaysia are under the age of 18, UNHCR said.
Some have lived in Malaysia for decades, raising families in precarious conditions, undocumented and vulnerable to exploitation.
Others find a way to another country that would give them permits to work, and eventually, residency status.
In the process, some fall in love.
One Kuala Lumpur dweller shares some thoughts on what it's like to be in love with a refugee:
He's 35, and I'm 31.
We're in love, but I feel sad that other couples can think and plan for their future - but I can't, because no matter what we do, he's still a refugee.
I've never met anyone else who thinks like me.
I tried dating other guys, but it didn't work out because the way they think is too narrow-minded.
I like how he thinks, and we have really deep conversations I've never had with anyone else.
And he's the most serious guy I've ever met, but at the same time, he also has his little moments of spontaneity.
No matter what we do, it’s hard to visualise a future together.
He can't be Malaysian and he can't go anywhere else.
And I can't change the country's refugee laws.
This story was first published on the HUMANS OF KUALA LUMPUR Facebook page. In this photography project, Mushamir Mustafa takes pictures of random people in Kuala Lumpur, who share with him a story from their lives. It features on Malaysiakini every weekend.
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