KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — The government has ordered the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to halt refugee registrations so the management system under the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) can be restructured.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the decision was made by the Cabinet to ensure refugee management and registrations in Malaysia are carried out more systematically under government supervision.
“We have… instructed UNHCR to stop refugee registrations for the time being because we are reorganising the DPP.
“Through the DPP, the government can manage data in a more organised manner, including for the purposes of data coordination, identity verification, monitoring, and regulation without relying on foreign entities’ records,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Senator Hussin Ismail in the Dewan Negara today.
Hussin asked about the government’s measures to address the issue of Rohingya refugees who don’t have identity documents nor Myanmar citizenship.
Lukanisman said registration under the DPP will be a strict process done in collaboration with enforcement agencies to ensure only those eligible are registered and to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants.
He said Malaysia is also pursuing a multilateral approach with Myanmar and ASEAN members to address the Rohingya refugee issue, to prevent Malaysia from continuing to bear the burden of refugee management since it is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Meanwhile, Lukanisman said Myanmar citizens at the Immigration detention depots will be repatriated as soon as Naypyitaw decides to accept their return.
“About 5,000 Myanmar nationals currently detained at the depot will be repatriated to the Myanmar government and will be returned on navy ships, subject to the resolution process,” he explained.
