THE Home Ministry yesterday questioned the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over its “arbitrary” issuance of refugee identification cards to several Indonesian nationals.

Its minister Hamzah Zainuddin said the ministry found several Indonesians in possession of UNHCR refugee cards during enforcement actions  by the Immigration Department. 

“How can the UNHCR issue such cards arbitrarily, until those who possess them seem to be able to somehow stay in the country legally,” he said during a media conference after the enforcement operation at Meru market near Kapar last night.

The operation saw 704 foreigners inspected, 51 immigrants detained on various immigration-related offences.

On the system failure at the Kelana Jaya Immigration Office reported by a news portal, Hamzah said it also took place in immigration offices in other locations as well.

“We use this (online) but it’s an old system. So when an old system is overwhelmed, it will jam slightly. That’s why we have awarded a contract to a new company for a system.

“They are conducting (the process) and insya-Allah in 2024 it will all be completed, and we can use a better and more sophisticated system,” he added. – Bernama, May 28, 2022.