UNHCR’s Function to Be Reviewed – Mohamad

SEREMBAN: The government will adopt a firmer stance by reviewing the existence and role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in this country.

Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said this country cannot become a magnet for refugees from other countries to the point where their entry cannot be controlled.

He said, at present, there is no standard operating procedure (SOP) or formal agreement governing UNHCR’s operations, including matters related to the registration process and issuance of UNHCR cards which can be applied for online before the individual arrives in this country.

“This is something we need to manage if they do not want to cooperate. The time has come for us to reconsider the presence of UNHCR in our country. That is my view, so that we do not continue to be burdened.

“This serves as a magnet for refugees to come to Malaysia because there is a UNHCR office and they can issue cards arbitrarily. That is something we need to manage properly,” he said after inspecting the early voting process for the Negeri Sembilan State Election (PRN) at the Sendayan Air Base here yesterday.

Mohamad said UNHCR’s original function in this country was to manage the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees to third countries, and that role should have ended after that crisis was resolved.

However, he questioned why the organisation still remains operational in this country without any clear Host Country Agreement (HCA) with the government.

He at the same time explained that the matter had been raised in the Cabinet Committee meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to ensure an HCA is established.

That agreement, he said, is important to set the scope of authority, responsibilities and limits of UNHCR’s actions in Malaysia so that its operations are subject to guidelines and procedures agreed upon by the government.

“The agreement would specify what they can do or what they cannot do. But it appears that now there is nothing. No SOP. The UNHCR card can be applied for online from Myanmar, come here and collect the card immediately, what screening do we have?” he said.

Previously, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will not compromise on any refugee group that acts to disrupt public order or attempts to take over any area in this country.

Anwar said enforcement agencies including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Immigration Department and local authorities (PBT) have been directed to take firm action against any party that violates the law.

Utusan Malaysia