Govt weighs movement controls for Rohingya refugees, says Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi disclosed that the Malaysian government is contemplating the restriction of Rohingya refugee movement within the country. In a written parliamentary response to Wee Jeck Seng, the deputy prime minister stated that the government is examining the feasibility of implementing such a measure, taking into consideration factors such as security, national sovereignty, and human rights.

The National Security Council (MKN) is collaborating with various ministries, departments, agencies, and local authorities to gather feedback and plan suitable actions to address issues related to the Rohingya community in Malaysia. The deputy prime minister elaborated on this in his response to Wee Jeck Seng's inquiry about the government's strategies for managing the Rohingya refugee issue.

Zahid mentioned that the government is currently engaged in registering Rohingya refugees across the country under the Refugee Registration Document Programme (DPP). This program is still in its initial phase, concentrating on refugees held in immigration detention centers. The government anticipates transitioning to a second phase soon, which will focus on refugees holding UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) cards residing outside detention centers.