MCA Youth has called on Putrajaya to strengthen Malaysia’s refugee management framework following concerns raised by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan over the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) refugee registration process.
MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong said Malaysia should continue providing temporary protection to refugees on humanitarian grounds, but this must be balanced with national security, effective governance and public confidence.
His remarks came after Mohamad reportedly expressed concern that UNHCR had been issuing refugee cards without adequate screening or a mutually agreed standard operating procedure with the Malaysian authorities.
According to the UNHCR, Malaysia was hosting approximately 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers as of the end of February, underscoring the need for a more structured and comprehensive approach to refugee management.
Neow said the growing refugee population had placed increasing pressure on public security, infrastructure and government systems, making it necessary for Putrajaya to tighten registration, monitoring and enforcement measures.
He noted that some refugees had established settlements on unauthorised public land, raising concerns over public order, land use and the well-being of surrounding communities.
Although Malaysia has hosted UNHCR operations since 1975, when the agency began assisting Vietnamese boat people, Neow said the country still lacks a dedicated national refugee management agency, leaving much of the responsibility to the UNHCR.
He acknowledged that the Home Ministry had introduced the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) but noted that the system remains under restructuring and has yet to become fully operational.
Pending its full implementation, Neow proposed establishing a centralised interim refugee registration database to improve monitoring and reduce administrative gaps.
“Assigning every refugee a unique identifier would reduce duplicate registrations, prevent identity fraud and improve administrative efficiency,” he remarked.
“The Immigration Department should also strengthen identity verification through biometric registration and, where feasible, conduct security screening against relevant international criminal and terrorism databases.
“Comprehensive health and security assessments should be completed before refugees are permitted to remain in Malaysia to safeguard public health and national security.”
On employment, Neow said the Government should step up enforcement against employers who exploit undocumented refugee labour.
Should refugees be granted the right to work, he said employment should be regulated through a transparent permit system and proper employer registration to reduce informal labour and improve oversight.
Neow said Malaysia should continue upholding its humanitarian tradition by providing temporary protection to those genuinely in need while ensuring refugee management remains transparent, accountable and well regulated.
“A well-managed refugee system is essential to balance humanitarian assistance with public confidence, effective governance and national stability,” he stressed. ‒ July 30, 2026
Main image: Bernama
