SEREMBAN: Malaysia should reconsider the presence of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) if the international body refuses to cooperate in implementing a strict screening process for refugee card applicants, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pic).
The Foreign Minister said the existence of the UNHCR office is seen as a ‘magnet’ that attracts more refugees, especially the Rohingya ethnic group, to Malaysia.
He said the government, through the Home Ministry, is working on a mechanism to ensure the screening process is carried out jointly by UNHCR and local authorities before a refugee card is issued to an individual.
Mohamad said the matter was also raised in the Cabinet committee meeting chaired by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister had requested for the Host Country Agreement be expedited to set guidelines and stricter controls on the issuance of UNHCR cards, Mohamad said.
“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,” he said, Bernama reported.
Mohamad said among issues that needed to be addressed was the refugee card application process which he claimed was too easy to the point of allowing individuals to apply online from their country of origin before obtaining the card upon arrival in Malaysia.
“Right now, there is no standard operating procedure. We do not have screening, this is what we need to manage.”
