Rohingya activist says it’s unfair to send refugees back to Myanmar

On October 5, PAS MP Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman advocated for a balanced approach to managing Rohingya refugees within Malaysia, emphasizing that strict immigration policies should not compromise humanity and justice. During a debate on refugee management, he stressed the importance of protecting national security and maintaining secure borders while ensuring a robust registration system.

Tarmizi urged ASEAN to exert diplomatic pressure for a political resolution to the Myanmar conflict, the main driver of the refugee influx. He called for an end to violence against civilians, particularly in Rakhine State, and unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery, along with inclusive political dialogue.

To tackle operational challenges, Tarmizi supported the government's plan for a standardized digital identification system that incorporates biometric tracking, background security checks, transparent status determination, and inter-agency audit checks. He highlighted that refugees are not automatically illegal immigrants or victims of human trafficking, who should not be treated as criminals.

Tarmizi cautioned against rising hate speech and xenophobia on social media, stressing that human rights protections do not grant non-citizens immunity from local laws.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that as of December 2025, 214,079 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Malaysia, in addition to over 90,000 individuals detained in enforcement operations in 2025. Tarmizi noted that the Rohingya community in Malaysia had faced significant xenophobic attacks recently, which he attributed to the government's perceived failure to manage the refugee issue effectively and counter hateful propaganda.

He urged society not to let hate speech and xenophobia dominate, emphasizing that human rights principles must be upheld even if individual refugees commit crimes or violate laws. Tarmizi stated, "If a refugee commits a crime, breaks the law, disturbs public order, engages in violence, exploits others, or commits any offense, they must face Malaysian law."