KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must strengthen its existing refugee management framework to ensure humanitarian responsibilities are balanced with national security and sovereignty amid the worsening global refugee crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said the move is necessary as the world faces an increasingly complex refugee crisis, with more than 122 million people forcibly displaced by conflict and global instability.
"This situation requires every country, including Malaysia, to have clear policies and management mechanisms that balance humanitarian responsibilities with the need to safeguard national security and sovereignty.
"I believe refugee management is not merely an administrative matter. It is also about protecting national security, preserving public order and ensuring every decision is guided by the interests of the people and Malaysia’s sovereignty,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 30).
The Deputy Prime Minister made the remarks after chairing the 6th Meeting of the High-Level Committee on the Management of Refugees and Asylum Seekers, which reviewed the implementation of policies and management mechanisms to ensure Malaysia’s refugee framework remains systematic and aligned with national interests.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) and discussed streamlining guidelines on access to education and healthcare to ensure they are better coordinated, legally compliant and easier for relevant agencies to administer. - Bernama
