Shut Down UNHCR If It Cannot Manage Refugees

SHAH ALAM: The government must expedite its review of the need for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to maintain its presence in Malaysia and make a decision within six months if the agency is found to have failed to fulfil its responsibilities.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) international law expert Professor Dr Salawati Mat Basir said UNHCR is now seen as no longer efficient in carrying out its role of resettling refugees in third countries.

She said this weakness has left Malaysia facing prolonged refugee-related issues, while the process of resettling refugees in third countries remains extremely slow.

“They should speed up the process of relocating refugees. But right now, we can clearly see that it is very slow,” she said when contacted on Tuesday.

Previously, media reports stated that the government was reviewing the need for UNHCR’s continued presence in Malaysia following its shortcomings in resettling refugees in third countries.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said UNHCR no longer appeared to be playing the same role it had during the Vietnamese refugee crisis between 1978 and 1990.

He said the situation was worrying, as only about 5,000 refugees had been resettled in third countries over the past two to three years.

Therefore, Salawati urged the government to immediately assess UNHCR’s effectiveness and determine the agency’s future in Malaysia.

“I hope the review can be carried out more quickly and not take up to 10 years. It should be completed within six months. If UNHCR is incapable of fulfilling its responsibilities, shut it down,” she stressed.

She also questioned UNHCR’s responsibility towards individuals issued refugee cards, while long-term solutions to enable their resettlement in third countries remain unclear.

“UNHCR issues cards to refugees, but it does not want to take responsibility for the people to whom it issues those cards. It washes its hands of the matter,” she said.

According to her, the situation raises questions as some refugees have been living in Malaysia for decades without a clear resolution regarding their status.

Salawati said the online application system was also a cause for concern, as it allegedly allows individuals to apply for refugee status before entering Malaysia.

Therefore, Malaysia needs to take a firmer approach in managing refugee issues, including establishing new admission policies and defining the responsibilities of the relevant parties.

“In my view, as long as we do not close our doors to the entry of migrants, refugees and stateless individuals, this problem will continue and persist,” she said.

She also warned that Malaysia would continue to bear the burden of managing refugees as long as there was no long-term solution, particularly when third countries were unwilling to accept more refugees.

Sinar Harian