Malaysia plans to gradually reduce reliance on UNHCR

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking to gradually reduce its reliance on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as its capacity to manage refugees and asylum seekers improves.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the move was part of a review of the UNHCR office's operations, scope and functions in Malaysia.

He said the review was being undertaken in line with the implementation of the Refugee Registration Document (DPP), which is aimed at strengthening Malaysia's own refugee management mechanism.

"The government is currently reviewing the direction of the operations of the UNHCR office in Malaysia, including the scope of its role and functions, so that they are aligned with the implementation of the DPP and government-led national mechanisms.

"In the long term, this direction also takes into account the gradual reduction of dependence on UNHCR, in line with the increasing capacity of the government to take over the management of refugees and asylum seekers," he said in a parliamentary written reply.

Mohamad was responding to Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran), who asked about the legal basis and government decisions allowing UNHCR to operate in Malaysia despite the country not being a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

Ronald also asked about the scope of UNHCR's functions, powers and responsibilities agreed to by the government.

Mohamad said the DPP was being implemented under National Security Council Directive No. 23 (2023 revision) to strengthen the management of refugees and asylum seekers, including through data coordination, identity verification, monitoring and regulation.

The mechanism would also reduce reliance on records held by foreign entities, he said.

Mohamad said Malaysia was not a party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol.

Mohamad said Malaysia was not a party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol.

However, on humanitarian grounds, the government had allowed refugees and asylum seekers to remain temporarily in the country until they were resettled in third countries or returned to their countries of origin.

He said the UNHCR office had operated in Malaysia since 1975, adding that its presence and operations did not alter Malaysia's position as a non-signatory to the convention.

"UNHCR's mandate is limited to providing protection and assistance to refugees," he said.

In the context of refugee and asylum seeker management in Malaysia, Mohamad said UNHCR's functions included registration and documentation, refugee status determination and resettlement to third countries.

All UNHCR cardholders remained subject to Malaysian laws, he added.