Saringan pelarian di depot selesai hujung tahun

The Malaysian Home Ministry is finalizing the process for determining the status of asylum seekers at immigration detention centers ahead of the end of the year, ahead of presenting a report to the Cabinet Committee. Immigration Department Director-General Awang Alik Jeman said the assessment will determine whether the detainees are real refugees, those holding valid passports or unauthorized foreign nationals.

The Deputy Prime Minister's Office has instructed the Home Ministry to provide figures on the processed cases by the end of the year, he said during a media briefing. This move is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the local legislation framework and reducing the country's reliance on United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) data.

In July, Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Minister for Rural and Regional Development, announced Malaysia would develop its own asylum and refugee management mechanism without relying on foreign entities, as reported by MKN Resolution No. 23 on the Criteria and Mechanism for Asylum Seekers and Refugees Management (2023). Emphasis was placed on efficient management and enforcement mechanisms, integration with labor and social welfare schemes, alongside ensuring national security and stability.

Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution İsmail, the Home Minister, said the Home Ministry, along with the Transport Ministry, would present a comprehensive plan for enhancing border control at major entry points, particularly at the KLIA International Airport. The draft plan would be submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister, Loke Siew Fook, in tandem with Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, as per Wednesday's Cabinet directive.

"Our focus is on improving integration. We cannot allow practices or work culture to operate in silos, especially when managing strategic entry points into the country," he said.