Govt in talks with UNHCR on refugee status, says Muhyiddin

The UNHCR currently determines the status of refugees in Malaysia. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says Putrajaya is negotiating an arrangement that would allow government agencies to determine the status of refugees in the country, a role currently performed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

He said this would allow the government to confirm the status of refugees and ensure that national security is given the top priority.

“I stressed the importance of this strategy to UNHCR’s High Commissioner Filippo Grandi in Geneva on Oct 8,” he said to Rosol Wahid (PH-Hulu Terengganu), who had asked for a breakdown of refugee numbers in the country and the steps taken to confirm their status.

As of September this year, he said, there were 177,943 UNHCR cardholders from 57 countries.

The majority came from Myanmar (153,591), followed by Pakistan (6,495) and Yemen (3,568).

UNHCR cards, issued to registered refugees, can provide limited protection from arrest as well as some access to health and education.

Earlier this year, Maja Lazic, the UNHCR deputy representative for Malaysia, said unless individuals are being persecuted for their nationality, race, religion, political opinion or social standing, they will not be issued a UNHCR card.

Muhyiddin also said the National Security Council and Prime Minister’s Department are working to update the guidelines for managing illegal immigrants who are also UNHCR card bearers.

“This is to ensure that the nation’s security is not compromised,” he said.

“The home ministry, through the immigration department, will carry out enforcement operations from time to time on illegal immigrants here.”

From Jan 1 to Oct 21 this year, he said, a total of 14,482 operations were carried out in which 169,760 foreigners were inspected. - FMT