Rohingya dominate immigration depot detainees in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: Nearly all of the 4,010 refugees held in immigration detention centers across Peninsular Malaysia are Myanmar nationals, with the vast majority belonging to the Rohingya ethnic group. The remaining two detainees are from Sudan and Syria.

Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that these individuals are part of Phase One of the Refugee Registration Document Program. The detainees consist of 2,746 adult men, 632 adult women, 392 boys, and 240 girls. Those confirmed as migrants receive a special card as official identification, allowing them to reside temporarily in Malaysia until final arrangements are made.

Saifuddin provided this information in a written response to a question from Teresa Kok Suh Sim (PH-Seputeh) regarding the program's implementation and the number of refugees permitted to work in Malaysia. He explained that detainees are gradually transferred to the Bidor Special Detention Center for Refugee and Asylum Seeker Determination in Perak, which has a capacity of 400 people. As of June, 128 Rohingya detainees had been moved, with 78 approved for refugee status under the program. Their release will follow the completion of all related processes.

Phase Two of the program, involving UNHCR cardholders and individuals claiming refugee status outside detention centers, is scheduled to begin in the latter half of this year, with the registration process aiming for completion by December 31, 2029. A pilot employment program for 78 approved refugees is also underway, identifying 25 individuals as eligible for hiring. The entire registration process is managed by the Refugee Registration Task Force within the Immigration Department, without NGO involvement.