PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pejuang Tanahair (Pejuang) has submitted memorandums to the Home and Foreign Ministries calling for a comprehensive review of refugee management in Malaysia, including the possibility of gradually closing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in the country.
Two representatives from Pejuang Wilayah Persekutuan, Ena Awil and Nana Nordin, were present at both ministries to hand over the memorandums.
The memorandums were addressed to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
When contacted, Pejuang information chief Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali called on the government to consider gradually transferring refugee registration, identification, monitoring and case management responsibilities to Malaysian authorities.
He stressed that any decision to close UNHCR operations should only be implemented after a comprehensive assessment and the establishment of an effective government-managed system.
“Based on the memorandum, the proposal is aimed at ensuring that policies governing refugees and asylum seekers are determined according to Malaysian laws, national interests, public safety and administrative capabilities.
“The government should first evaluate the legal, diplomatic, financial, security and administrative implications of closing UNHCR operations,” he said.
He also called for an official transition plan identifying the lead agencies, division of responsibilities, manpower requirements, estimated costs and implementation timeline.
The memorandum outlined 10 key demands, including an independent audit of existing refugee management mechanisms and the establishment of a comprehensive government-controlled refugee database.
The proposed audit would examine identity verification, registration procedures, complaints and appeals mechanisms, data security, funding, public service costs and refugee resettlement outcomes.
Rafique said the party also proposed closer coordination between the Home Ministry, Immigration Department, police, National Registration Department, welfare agencies and state authorities.
“Any transfer of responsibilities must not result in gaps in monitoring, missing records, overlapping responsibilities or uncontrolled delays in handling refugee cases.
“Among other proposals was a feasibility study on controlled temporary accommodation facilities for refugees, subject to legal, security, financial and welfare considerations,” he said.
He also urged the government to clarify employment regulations for UNHCR document holders, including whether they could legally work in Malaysia and the conditions governing such employment.
The memorandum called for greater transparency in healthcare expenditure involving refugees, including a breakdown of government spending, user payments, subsidies and donor contributions.
“The party is also seeking stronger enforcement against suspected illegal business activities, document forgery, misuse of identities and unlawful employment.
“Enforcement action, however, must be based on evidence and applicable laws rather than assumptions about particular communities,” he said.
He added that the party had called for the regular publication of accurate crime statistics, warning that isolated offences should not be used to generalise about the entire refugee population.
On international obligations, the memorandum acknowledged that Malaysia was not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol.
“The government must continue to consider applicable domestic laws and other international legal obligations, including relevant protections against returning individuals to places where they could face persecution or serious harm.”