Malaysia is increasing pressure on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) amid a growing wave of anti-Rohingya sentiment in the country. According to state news agency Bernama, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia needs to review the continued presence of UNHCR if the agency does not impose stricter controls on the issuance of refugee documentation.
The remarks came on December 24, a day after Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya asylum seekers who had gathered outside UNHCR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to demand support after being evicted from their homes in Penang state. Hasan stressed that the Home Ministry is working to ensure the refugee screening process is conducted jointly between UNHCR and local authorities.
“We want cooperation and strict screening. If they are unwilling to cooperate, I think it is time for us to reconsider the presence of UNHCR in this country so that we do not continue to bear the burden,” Hasan emphasized. He also criticized UNHCR in Malaysia for allowing individuals to apply online from abroad and receive refugee cards upon arrival, which he said attracts more refugees.
In a statement the same day, UNHCR said it was coordinating with authorities to protect the detained Rohingya and verify their documents. “These efforts have contributed to moving them to alternative accommodation, and work is ongoing,” UNHCR announced.
Bernama quoted a senior police officer as saying all the detained Rohingya possessed valid documents issued by UNHCR and would be temporarily taken to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.
Malaysia has long been a safe haven for Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Although not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, as of late February about 126,000 Rohingya, predominantly Muslim, were registered with UNHCR in the country. However, these refugees have faced increased scrutiny and harassment in recent months, with hate speech and online misinformation against them on the rise.
Amnesty International also voiced concern after Malaysian police detained the Rohingya asylum seekers. “Malaysia cannot build a credible refugee protection system while treating refugees as fugitives to be hunted, detained, and deported,” the Amnesty International Malaysia chapter said, adding: “Refugees and asylum seekers must be treated with dignity and in accordance with their human rights, as people who need protection.”
