Time for Malaysia to stop criminalising refugees - MP

 

Malaysia needs to move away from policies that criminalise refugees and instead develop policies to protect them, said Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid.

She also urged for policies that will allow refugees to contribute to society and the economy.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM) on Refugee Policy chairperson said this can be done through shared responsibility of all stakeholders, including the government, without burdening the people.

Syerleena said the group comprising MPs and civil society representatives during a meeting in Parliament earlier today specifically discussed issues affecting some 180,000 registered refugees in Malaysia - the majority, or over 100,000 of them, are Rohingya.

"The APPGM on Refugee Policy calls for comprehensive policy reforms that puts protection of refugees at its centre; grants refugees access to basic services like healthcare and education; gives them opportunities to work legally and contribute to our economy while seeking refuge in Malaysia," she told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

The DAP lawmaker noted how women and children caught in the refugee crisis were among the most vulnerable and dedicated measures must be taken to uphold their basic rights, including getting access to health care and education.

Detention improvements

Sik MP Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman said the group had previously made recommendations to the Home Ministry on conditions in immigration detention, particularly for children.

The PAS parliamentarian said this includes support of proposals on alternative detention such as dedicated shelters for children held at immigration depots.

"I was informed there are still many children held in detention and so we seek the government's assistance to find viable alternatives to move them out," he added.

From left: Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah, Sik MP Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman and Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Aziz

As of last month, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said there were 1,030 children in immigration custody - 579 boys and 451 girls - of which the majority, or 679 children, are unaccompanied by an adult.

NSC order

Meanwhile, Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah noted that related policy changes would start with the National Security Council (NSC) Order No 23 on mechanisms to manage refugees or listed as "undocumented migrants who are United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees card holders".

He said the order guides over 12 agencies with policies that affect refugees, as their status is still unrecognised under Malaysian law.

"We were informed that during the previous administration, there was a draft amendment to this order, and now there are further developments," the Bersatu MP added.

Overall the MPs said proposed policy reforms also aimed at tackling xenophobia against refugees and preventing tension with locals in the area they are living in. - Mkini