Shahidan: No plans to help Rohingya refugees understand local customs

Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has no intention to introduce programmes for Rohingya refugees to help them assimilate with local customs as the move could be seen as trying to give them citizenship.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said currently the refugees were only issued with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHRC) cards, which are equipped with high security features.

"If we introduce it (assimilation programmes), it means that we have the intention to give them citizenship. And if we open the floodgates, I am sure others will also would want come here," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) during Question Time.

Nurul Izzah had asked the Government whether it would introduce an assimilation programme to help the Rohingya integrate with locals and stop them from being involved in social problems.

Shahidan also said such programmes would also discourage Rohingya refugees from going back to their home country or to travel to a third country.

According to Shahidan, there are a total of 16,809 Rohingya refugee children holding UNHCR cards in the country.

To the initial question, Shahidan reiterated that the Government did not give any special treatment to Rohingya refugees or their children who are born in Malaysia.

"All card holders from Myanmar are free to move around the country and practise their beliefs and customs as well as religion. They receive a 50% discount at government hospitals compared to other foreign nationals who have access to private healthcare.

"If the card holders are found to be involved in any activities that are against the law, necessary action will be taken against them according to the law," he told Tan Sri Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh), who asked the government to reveal the initiatives taken to help Rohingya refugees and their children.