Refugees must respect Malaysian laws in exchange for protection, says UNHCR

KUALA LUMPUR: Refugees must respect and comply with Malaysian laws while the country, in turn, recognises the need to protect those fleeing conflict and persecution, says the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

UNHCR representative in Malaysia Louise Aubin said refugees are not immune to the laws of a country and that a mutual respect exists between the host nation and refugees.

“All refugees must abide by the law. Refugees are not immune to the laws of a country, they must respect the law.

“So there’s a mutual respect that is established. It’s almost like a contract between the host nation and refugees,” she said.

She told reporters this on the sidelines of the Kuala Lumpur Conference: Solidarity with Refugees held in conjunction with World Refugee Day here today.

The conference was jointly organised by the Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia and Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), with the cooperation of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia.

Addressing public concerns over refugees, particularly the Rohingya community, Aubin stressed that UNHCR applies stringent requirements when determining refugee status and that not everyone who comes to Malaysia qualifies as a refugee.

She said UNHCR conducts extensive interviews and cross-checks information before recognising an individual as a refugee.

“How do we find that out? Through very extensive interviews. UNHCR is able to cross-check information with its other offices in and around the world to verify that someone is who they say they are and what they have fled is actually true,” she added.

Aubin also welcomed Malaysia’s efforts to establish a more structured refugee management system through the implementation of the Refugee Registration Document Programme, which also strengthens national security through the collection of verified identity and biometrics.

She said such efforts would help ensure refugees do not remain displaced indefinitely and could eventually return home when conditions permit.

“I think that requires our entire priority and support going forward because that is a system that will not only protect refugees correctly, but will ensure that refugees find solutions,” she said.