Malaysia kini / Sep 7, 2022
‘Inefficient’ Home Ministry placing refugee resettlement at risk – Santiago
The Home Ministry’s move to introduce a refugee tracking system and call for the shutdown of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Malaysia is putting the success of refugees’ resettlement at risk, says Klang MP Charles Santiago.
Based on the ministry’s track record in the management of migrant workers in the country, Santiago described the Home Ministry as “highly inefficient”, adding that resettlement of refugees was a very rigorous process and receiving countries must accept the system of scrutiny.
“I have not seen any other country shut down the UNHCR office and Malaysia does not have the capacity for such a massive effort.
“Despite having migrant workers in Malaysia for more than 20 years, we still don’t know how many migrants are in the country, documented or undocumented.
“There is no system in place that can give us this information on any given day, but the UNHCR is in touch with the refugee communities in Malaysia,” he said.
Yesterday, National Security Council (NSC) director-general Rodzi Md Saad said the agency was mulling to shut down the UNHCR office in Malaysia.
Rodzi also said local authorities can better manage the refugee situation without foreign interference.
However, he clarified that the plan would not happen soon as local agencies needed further improvements.
Earlier today, Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai reminded the government to discuss such matters at the Parliament instead of making arbitrary decisions.
He added that any decision to close a UN agency would not bode well for the country’s image.
Hurling brickbats at Rodzi, Santiago said the abuse of the migrant communities in Malaysia by the government and their employers was scandalous.
Santiago also called Rodzi to explain his accusations of “foreign interference” in UNHCR’s refugee management.
“What exactly is ‘foreign interference’ and how did that ‘foreign interference’ help in the management of refugees in Malaysia?
“The government must be transparent and explain this accusation,” he added.
In July, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin announced that the government had approved the Tracking Refugees Information System (Tris) and that all refugees and asylum seekers must register themselves on the system.
According to an Al Jazeera report on Aug 11, the information system was implemented by a private company, Barisan Mahamega Sdn Bhd, appointed by the ministry.
It was chaired by a former head of the Special Branch, Akhil Bulat, who is also the company’s largest shareholder.
Refugee groups like the Alliance of Chin Refugees, however, fear Tris was a "trap" and are concerned over data security, Al Jazeera reported.
Money-making scheme
Santiago, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Fundamental Liberty and Constitutional Rights pointed out that the ministry’s blatant “burning of its bridges” with UNHCR suggested that there was a hidden interest.
“They have already privatised the job to a company and they may want to privatise more of this effort to other crony companies,” he claimed.
Santiago demanded public scrutiny on the matter and urged the government to be transparent in the process.
“The present system may not be perfect but the forward-looking strategy should be to talk to UNHCR if you have issues on how cards were being issued, instead of shutting them down.
“We should also be focusing on a system that would allow refugees to seek employment in Malaysia,” he noted.
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