Putrajaya has directed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to temporarily halt all refugee registrations pending a restructuring of the government’s management system via the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) programme.
According to The Star, Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni told the Dewan Negara today that the decision was made to ensure that the management and registration of refugees in the nation are executed in a more orderly manner under government supervision.
He added that the matter was determined by the cabinet during its earlier meeting.
“Through the DPP, the government can manage data in a more organised manner, including for data coordination, identity verification, monitoring, and regulation without relying on the records of any foreign entities,” Lukanisman was quoted as saying.
He further affirmed that registration under the DPP will follow a strict process in collaboration with multiple enforcement agencies, and is aimed at ensuring that only eligible individuals are registered while preventing the entry of undocumented migrants in the future.
Protecting M’sian interests
Highlighting that Malaysia is continuing to adopt a multilateral approach with Myanmar and Asean member countries to more seriously address the Rohingya refugee issue, Lukanisman said such a step is vital to protect Malaysia’s interests.
Besides considerations about the impact on local communities, he pointed out that Malaysia should not continue to bear the burden of refugee management since it is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The Sibuti MP said this when answering a supplementary question from senator Hussin Ismail, who sought an explanation on the government’s measures to address the issue of Rohingya refugees who possess neither identity documents nor citizenship recognised by Myanmar.
Last month, Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief (Mahar) urged the UNHCR to expedite the resettlement of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, stressing that the country is only a transit nation and not a permanent resettlement destination.
Mahar noted that since Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the responsibility for resettling refugees in third countries lies with the UNHCR, whose efforts the group said should be carried out more swiftly and aggressively.
Hate campaign
The call came amid increased hate campaigns against the persecuted community, who have been exiled from their native Rakhine state in Myanmar by force, with some online comments demanding that they now be “chased out” of Malaysia.
The surge in online hostility against the community also led to former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah pressing the Home Ministry to present a ministerial statement in Parliament on Putrajaya’s refugee policy.
On July 8, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the DPP initiative is necessary as the current refugee registration process, managed by the UNHCR, involves lengthy data-sharing procedures with the government.
Rohingya human rights advocate Nur Sadek previously said that while the DPP has the potential to become one of the most important changes to refugee management in Malaysia in decades, attention should also be focused on its practical outcomes.
Emphasising that trust is essential to the success of any registration system, the founding member of Rohingya Rights Response said that for the DPP to achieve its intended goals, refugees need clear, accessible, and consistent information about the programme. - Mkini
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