PM: Move to halt UNHCR role must go through UN

KUALA LUMPUR: Any proposal to stop the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from managing refugee matters in Malaysia must go through the United Nations, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that UNHCR's presence in Malaysia was a legacy issue, as the government had allowed it to operate at the time.

"So, to amend the regulations, as recently done by the Home Ministry, requires time and also a process of negotiations with UNHCR, so that it does not appear that we are setting aside international regulations," he said in response to a question from Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut).

Hamzah had asked the prime minister on plans to stop UNHCR from issuing cards to refugees and instead have the government issue identification documents.

Anwar said he agreed that Malaysia should take a firmer approach in managing the matter, stressing that the government should handle its own country's affairs.