Malaysia: crackdown against illegal migrants begins
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Rupert Colville – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
As a twice-postponed crackdown in Malaysia against illegal migrants got underway today shortly after midnight, a mixed picture of the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers is emerging. UNHCR has been concerned that refugees and people of concern to us could get caught up in the crackdown. So far, we are encouraged by early reports showing that Malaysian law enforcers, especially RELA - a volunteer corps - and the police, have released people carrying UNHCR documents. However, some 29 persons with documentation have been arrested by immigration authorities and sent to immigration detention centres. We have quickly responded by sending staff to the centres to ensure the refugees are not deported.
Meanwhile, more than than 300 people crowded outside the UNHCR's office in Kuala Lumpur today (Tuesday) hoping to secure our assistance to remain in Malaysia. They were mainly from Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia's Aceh province, some having camped outside the UNHCR compound since the previous night. The office is trying to register asylum seekers on an urgent basis and counselling them accordingly.
Almost half a million enforcement personnel from immigration and a civil volunteer corps called Ikatan Relawan Rakyat or RELA and the police started moving in small groups across the country after midnight, to round up an estimated 400,000 illegal workers and their employers.
UNHCR today received and accepted an offer from RELA to accompany their raids against illegal migrants and do an immediate verification of those of concern to us.
UNHCR personnel are on 24-hour alert to protect refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia. An operations room has been set up with three hotlines staffed at all times. This is to ensure that the authorities can call us and check whether a certain individual is registered with UNHCR, or is of concern to the office. If so, they should then be released. Refugees and asylum seekers can also call in if they are facing problems.
In readiness for the crackdown, UNHCR put in place a number of informal arrangements with the authorities to prevent any negative effects on people of concern to us. Late last year, our representative in Malaysia addressed police chiefs from the country's 13 states on refugee registration, documentation and status determination. Training has also been given to senior RELA staff on recognising UNHCR documentation.
UNHCR has received assurances from the highest levels of the Malaysian government that people of concern to us will not be affected and the refugee agency's representative has urged all officials involved in the crackdown to respect people registered and documented by UNHCR and to refrain from taking any action against all groups of concern to the UN refugee agency. There are some 35,000 people of concern to UNHCR in Malaysia, including ethnic groups from Myanmar, people fleeing from Indonesia's Aceh province, and other nationalities.
Related news and stories
UNHCR deplores continued deportation of Myanmar asylum-seekers from Malaysia
Refugee women take the lead in combating gender-based violence
Refugee tailors switch to making face masks and protective gear
The Global Compact on Refugees, explained
UNHCR thanks Indonesia and Malaysia for rescue and disembarkation of Rohingya refugees, calls on countries in the region to comply with maritime search and rescue obligations
Rohingya refugee beats the odds to get schooling in Malaysia
Your search for « malaysia » matched 1695 results. Only the first 1,000 results are displayed. Displaying page 3 of 112 pages.
-
UNHCR Country Operations Plan 2007 - Malaysia
1 Sep 2006 ... Country Operations Plan 2007 MALAYSIA Country Operations Plan for 2007 covering Malaysia Part I: OVERVIEW (1) Protection and socio-economic operational environment At the end of 2005, UNHCR in ...... -
UNHCR Country Operations Plan 2004 - Malaysia
1 Sep 2003 ... COUNTRY OPERATIONS PLAN Country: Malaysia Planning Year: 2004 Malaysia Executive Committee Summary (a) Context -Beneficiary Populations and Themes Malaysia is not party to 1951 Refugee Convention or ...... -
UNHCR Country Operations Plan 2005 - Malaysia
1 Sep 2004 ... COUNTRY OPERATIONS PLAN Executive Committee Summary Country: Malaysia Planning Year: 2005 Malaysia 2005 Country Operations Plan Part I: Executive Summary (a) Context, Beneficiary Populations and ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2009 - Malaysia
1 Jun 2010 ... Malaysia l In 2009 UNHCR in Malaysia registered almost 40,000 persons, some 20,500 of them through an innovative mobile registration programme. The Office conducted refugee status determination (RSD) ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2010 - Malaysia
20 Jun 2011 ... Malaysia Operational highlights l In 2010, UNHCR registered almost 26,000 people, some 9,500 of them ... Working environment Malaysia continued to be a challenging environment in which to provide ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2012-2013 - Malaysia
1 Dec 2011 ... MALAYSIA £ Malaysia is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention nor its Protocol and does not have an asylum system regulating the status and rights of refugees. The absence of a legal framework on ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2013 Update - Malaysia
1 Dec 2012 ... MALAYSIA Working environment £ The context Malaysia presents a complex protection environment for UNHCR as a result of the large number of urban refugees, smaller groups of stateless people, and ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2014-2015 - Malaysia
1 Dec 2013 ... | UNHCR Global Appeal 2014-2015 • Malaysia • 1 | | Overview | Working environment Malaysia has not yet signed the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and lacks a formal legislative ...... -
UNHCR urges Malaysia to stop deportations of Acehnese Indonesians, demands access
28 Mar 1998 ... The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Saturday urged Malaysia to stop ... be among those sent back by Malaysia," said Sadako Ogata, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. ......