THE government’s priority is safety and public order before a foreigner is accorded refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Deputy Home Minister I Ismail Mohamed Said said the UNHCR has also said that the process to obtain refugee status was a detailed one and cannot be done in a hurry.

“This is to prevent the refugee status from being given to individuals who do not meet the requirements and have a negative background, criminal record, tendency towards subversive activities, and other criteria which can threaten national safety and sovereignty,” he said.

Ismail said this when answering a special chamber motion by Chan Ming Kai (PH-Alor Setar), who asked about the policy for refugees in Malaysia at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

He said the deferment of UNHCR access for the process of determining refugee status and control at immigration detention centres and prison were imposed based on existing laws.

He added that the ministry and the National Security Council as the policymakers on illegal immigrants in Malaysia with UNHCR cards were looking at ways to improve the procedure, practice and control, especially in awarding refugee status and facilitating the mechanism for the management of UNHCR card holders.

He said the government was fine-tuning the implementation of information sharing with UNHCR and if agreed, will gain access to information on foreigners with UNHCR cards as well as asylum seekers in Malaysia.

“The government is also studying the proposal for its involvement in the process of according refugee status which is currently conducted by the UNHCR.

“Although Malaysia is not a member nation of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention, and the 1967 Protocol, there is a need for the government to monitor the presence of illegal immigrants in the country who hold UNHCR cards.

He said this will ensure there is no security threat from individuals whose background is not known. – Bernama, July 20, 2020.