Stalled third-country resettlement slows Rohingya departure, says IGP

KUALA LUMPUR - Between 7,000 and 8,000 Rohingya refugees were previously resettled to third countries each year through government-to-government cooperation arrangements, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said today.

However, he said the process has since stalled due to various constraints faced by the countries involved.

Mohd Khalid said the Rohingya issue stemmed from political and security conditions in Myanmar, with Malaysia accepting their presence on humanitarian grounds.

"Malaysia has government-to-government (G2G) arrangements with several countries that allow Rohingya refugees to be temporarily accommodated before being resettled in third countries that require their labour or professional services.

"In recent years, the resettlement process has faced several constraints, resulting in a halt in their movement to third countries and giving rise to various issues that require the attention of all parties,” he told reporters after launching the ‘Perangi Scam: Dua Pasukan, Satu Matlamat’ programme here today.

He said Malaysia continued to take humanitarian considerations into account while ensuring national security remained protected.

"Everyone who comes to this country must comply with our laws and regulations. They are subject to our laws and if they commit offences, action will be taken just as it would against anyone else in the country,” he said.

Mohd Khalid said about 215,000 Rohingya are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while local authorities also maintain records of them in cooperation with the Immigration Department to facilitate monitoring.

"We know where they are and what they do for a living. If any crime involves them, it is easier for us to take action when we know their whereabouts,” he said.

On crime trends involving the community, he said Rohingya involvement in crime remained low, with 89 individuals linked to criminal cases between 2024 and this year, accounting for just 0.02 per cent of overall crime statistics nationwide.

He urged the public not to make statements that could affect public safety and order, stressing that enforcement action would be taken against anyone who broke the law regardless of nationality.

On Saturday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the low rate of third-country resettlement by UNHCR was among the reasons refugees, including Rohingya, remained within local communities for extended periods.

Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the state recorded 192 cases involving 300 Rohingya arrests between 2025 and May 2026, involving violent and property-related crimes.

He said police enforcement efforts had been consistent and continuous, and were not driven by prevailing sentiments.

"The police work closely with strategic partner agencies such as the Immigration Department and local authorities through information-sharing and integrated operations,” he said at a Selangor Commercial Crime Investigation Department press conference here today.

Shazeli said six integrated operations were carried out across Selangor last year to address related issues.

On the demolition of illegal settlements, he said discussions were ongoing with the relevant local authorities to enable further action in accordance with the law. -  BERNAMA