Why is UNHCR still registering refugees, asks Radzi

Putrajaya MP Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) has questioned the continued registration of refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) despite a Cabinet directive to suspend such registrations. The government had ordered the suspension in July while developing a replacement refugee registration system, yet a reply from the National Security Council suggested UNHCR was still processing a backlog of applications.

Radzi highlighted an image showing a UNHCR registration card dated October 29 and noted the online registration portal remained accessible. He called for decisive action from the government, warning that delays could entice syndicates to bring more refugees into the country. Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni acknowledged that monitoring of UNHCR's activities might be insufficient, stating that the government was finalising its own system despite registering only about 147 refugees since January due to a staff shortage.

He emphasized the need to process remaining cases on UNHCR's lists to prevent errors or abuse, while Malaysia urged UNHCR to expedite refugee resettlement in third countries. Radzi, however, insisted the government must take a stricter stance, asserting UNHCR should comply with the Cabinet decision.