Malaysia foreign minister calls for review of UN refugee agency's presence, state media reports

Malaysia should reconsider allowing the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to operate in the country if it does not impose stricter controls on issuing refugee documents, state media cited Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan as saying. His remarks came after authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya asylum seekers who had gathered outside the UNHCR premises in Kuala Lumpur seeking assistance after being evicted from their homes in Penang state.

Hasan stated that the government, through the home ministry, is working to ensure that refugee screening is conducted jointly by the UNHCR and local authorities when issuing documentation. "We want cooperation and strict screening. If they do not want to cooperate, in my opinion, it is time for us to reconsider the presence of UNHCR in the country so that we do not continue to be burdened," Bernama news agency quoted him as saying.

The minister suggested the UNHCR office was attracting more refugees to Malaysia, including Rohingya Muslims. The UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In an earlier statement, the agency said it was working with authorities to protect the detained Rohingya and verify their documentation, adding that efforts contributed to their transfer to alternative accommodation.

According to Bernama, the detained Rohingya possess valid UNHCR documentation and would be temporarily sheltered at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters pending further action by the refugee agency. Malaysia has been a haven for Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar, but increased online hate speech and misinformation have led to greater scrutiny of the group. Although Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention, around 126,000 Rohingya Muslims were registered with the UNHCR in the country as of February.

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We want cooperation and strict screening. If they do not want to cooperate, in my opinion, it is time for us to reconsider the presence of UNHCR in the country so that we do not continue to be burdened.