Specific laws needed to address refugee issues, says Sabah MP

A Malaysian politician has advocated for the enactment of specific laws to tackle refugee-related matters in the nation. Wilfred Madius Tangau, an MP representing the GRS-Tuaran constituency, emphasized that the current management of refugees relies on general directives and extensive discretionary powers, potentially resulting in poor administration, misuse of authority, and insufficient coordination.

During a debate on a parliamentary select committee's report concerning refugee management in Malaysia, Tangau raised the question, "If we want to manage refugees in our own way, shouldn't we have (our own) specific laws?" He suggested that the government should draw lessons from its experiences with managing Vietnamese and Filipino refugees in Sabah, as well as the Rohingya in Peninsular Malaysia, prior to determining the future of the refugee registration system (DPP), which was introduced in January to supersede the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) registration.

The system captures biometric data and more thorough identity details of migrants residing in the country. Tangau also stressed the necessity of a clear exit policy for temporary refugee shelters, as the lack of one could perpetuate such issues for three generations among Filipino refugees in Sabah. He criticized the DPP, stating it should not become the new IMM13, a document issued to Filipino migrants possessing refugee status since the 1970s.