MIGRANT activists have called on the government to sign the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention to guarantee refugees basic rights.

They said the government should provide refugees with employment and placement opportunities to avoid conflict with locals.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) executive director Sevan Doraisamy said the government should negotiate refugee job and resettlement issues with international bodies.

He said such a move is necessary as the resettlement of refugees takes a long time.

“Malaysia, which has long accepted refugees, needs to be a main actor in ensuring their welfare is better protected.

“As for jobs, we know that sometimes it can cause friction and concern among locals because they fear that migrants will take their jobs,” said Sevan.

Job opportunities for locals should not be taken by foreign workers, he said.

“If possible, employment opportunities for local citizens should not be replaced by importing workers from foreign countries.

“The government can create comfortable settlements where refugees can live safely, even though they may have to pay a little rent. With this, their needs can be better secured,” he said.

Migrant rights organisation North South Initiative (NSI) said Malaysia must sign the convention.

Its executive director Adrian Pereira said Malaysia will continue to face problems if it does not back the agreement.

“If we want to play a role in the refugee issue, we need to sign the convention.

“With Malaysia not being part of the convention, it considers all refugees illegal immigrants. In reality, these refugees are a stateless group.

“Malaysia cannot send them home, while the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) takes years to settle them in other countries,” he said.

Hostile asylum policies

If Malaysia does not ratify the convention, the local refugee problem will continue to be critical, said activist Alex Ong.

He said the UNHCR card is only considered identification for transit refugees or asylum seekers, and cardholders’ rights are not protected in Malaysia.

“Malaysia has no obligation to take care of refugees under the convention, and the UNHCR is (slow) to manage (their) resettlement in third countries willing to accept these refugees.

“This issue is very political because refugees are only treated as transit people without citizenship,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Ong said the plight of refugees is different from that of foreign immigrants, who can be repatriated if they commit offences in this country.

“On humanitarian grounds, Malaysia cannot deport (refugees) or allow them to stay for a long time, so resettlement is a permanent solution for them… (but) they have nowhere to go permanently.

“They cannot return to their country of origin, which is unsafe for them. This situation is indeed complex in terms of socio-economics and politics,” he said.

Mahi Ramakrishnan, a human rights activist, said UNHCR faces constraints in managing refugee resettlements in third countries.

“Right now, many borders are still closed. There are countries that build higher walls and enforce unfriendly asylum policies,” she said.

This has led to desperate asylum seekers using the services of smugglers to enter countries such as the United Kingdom, Hungary, Croatia and Germany.

“While many European countries have generously welcomed resettled Ukrainians, this has not been extended to asylum seekers from other countries.

“The UNHCR cannot be blamed for delays in resettling refugees in Malaysia in third countries,” she said. – May 22, 2023.