Shut down UNHCR if it cannot manage refugees

SHAH ALAM - The government should expedite its review of the need for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to operate in Malaysia and make a decision within six months if the agency is found to have failed to fulfil its responsibilities.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia international law expert Professor Dr Salawati Mat Basir said UNHCR no longer appeared to be effective in facilitating the resettlement of refugees to third countries.

She said the agency's shortcomings had caused Malaysia to continue facing prolonged refugee issues, while the resettlement process to third countries remained too slow.

"Indeed, in my opinion, UNHCR has failed. It is no longer like it was in the past. What the Foreign Minister said is true. In the past, during the Vietnamese refugee crisis, UNHCR was very efficient.

"It expedited the process of sending (refugees) out. But now, we can see that the process is very slow," she told Sinar on Tuesday.

Previously, it was reported that the government was reviewing the need for UNHCR to remain in Malaysia following its shortcomings in resettling refugees to third countries.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said UNHCR no longer played the same role it did when handling the Vietnamese refugee crisis between 1978 and 1990.

He said the situation was concerning, as only around 5,000 refugees had been resettled in third countries over the past two to three years.

Salawati therefore urged the government to promptly assess UNHCR's effectiveness and determine the agency's future in Malaysia.

"I hope the review will be expedited and not take 10 years. The review should be completed within six months. If (the agency) is incapable, shut it down," she said.

She also questioned UNHCR's responsibility towards individuals issued refugee cards, given that there was still no clear long-term solution to enable their resettlement in third countries.

"UNHCR issues cards (to refugees), but it does not want to take responsibility for the people to whom it has issued those cards. It washes its hands of the matter," she said.

She said the situation raised questions, as some refugees had continued living in Malaysia for decades without a clear resolution to their status.

Salawati said the online application system was also a cause for concern, as it allegedly allowed individuals to apply for refugee status before entering Malaysia.

As such, Malaysia needed to take a firmer approach to managing refugee issues, including establishing policies on new arrivals and clarifying the responsibilities of the relevant parties.

"In my opinion, as long as we do not close the door to the entry of immigrants, refugees and stateless individuals, this problem will continue and drag on," she said.

She also warned that Malaysia would continue to bear the burden of managing refugees without a long-term solution, particularly when third countries were unwilling to accept more refugees.