Rohingya issue a 'ticking time bomb', Syed Saddiq warns

Malaysia's Rohingya refugee situation poses a significant risk of escalating into a larger social and political issue if the country does not take decisive action, warned Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman during a debate on the Committee's Report on Refugee Management in Malaysia. While acknowledging Malaysia's compassionate approach to accepting refugees over the years, Saddiq cautioned that the nation cannot bear an ever-increasing burden indefinitely.

He emphasized that the Rohingya issue in Malaysia has been an ongoing problem, with consequences extending beyond the country's political landscape to its social fabric.

Saddiq stressed that Malaysia should not abandon its humanitarian principles but cautioned that ignoring the issue could exacerbate the situation. If action is not taken firmly, he warned, the problem will continue to worsen, potentially transforming from a ticking time bomb to a nuclear bomb, further destabilizing the political situation.

According to Saddiq, Malaysia currently houses around 130,000 officially recorded Rohingya refugees, with an unofficial count exceeding 200,000. He criticized Malaysia's lack of a sufficient resettlement process for the Rohingya community, resulting in their numbers continuing to grow.

Saddiq also criticized developed countries for taking in relatively fewer refugees while scrutinizing Malaysia's handling of the situation. He urged Western nations to house refugees instead of expecting Malaysia to bear the burden alone. The MP proposed stronger enforcement at Malaysia's maritime borders to prevent further irregular arrivals and called for a zero-tolerance policy from the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Additionally, Saddiq advocated for a middle-ground solution that balances firm enforcement with humanitarian considerations.

The MP proposed establishing a bipartisan special committee in Parliament to examine the refugee issue and develop a long-term approach that would remain consistent regardless of which political coalition was in power. He emphasized the need for a target, aiming to reduce the Rohingya refugee population from the current 200,000 to a much smaller figure within a decade, thus mitigating the impact of the already exploding time bomb.

On September 29, Malaysia launched the first phase of a repatriation program, resettling 1,476 Myanmar detainees aboard three Myanmar naval vessels.