{
  "id": 14836656,
  "title": "Bagaimana pelarian tak bekerja bayar insurans, kerajaan disoal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/bagaimana-pelarian-tak-bekerja-bayar-insurans-kerajaan-disoal-14836656",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/10/16/bagaimana-pelarian-tak-bekerja-bayar-insurans-kerajaan-disoal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tenaganita, an NGO advocating for migrant and refugee rights, has criticized the Malaysian Ministry of Health's proposal to make health insurance mandatory for refugees and asylum seekers. Executive Director Glorene Das stated that refugees are not allowed to work legally in Malaysia, forcing them to rely on unstable income and many struggling to meet basic needs. Das acknowledged the existence of the Refugee Medical Insurance Scheme (Remedi), which provides coverage at around RM183.60 per year, but emphasized that the amount is too high for refugees. \"How can we impose insurance on those who are not legally allowed to earn a living? We cannot deny the basic rights of refugees while expecting them to meet financial obligations,\" she told FMT. Das suggested the government should first evaluate existing mechanisms like Remedi, identify payment capacity gaps, and explore ways to strengthen such schemes. He argued that a more efficient solution is to first grant refugees the right to work legally in Malaysia, allowing them to fund their own healthcare while contributing to the local economy. \"We must also acknowledge that preventive care and early treatment are far cheaper than emergency treatment when many people delay seeking medical help due to financial constraints,\" he added. Last week, the Ministry of Health proposed making health insurance mandatory for refugees and asylum seekers to help cover medical costs and prevent healthcare bills from continuing to rise. Deputy Health Minister Hanifah Hajar Taib said the requirement should apply to refugees and asylum seekers registered under the government's refugee registration system, known as the DPP. She noted that more than 80% of medical bill delays involve undocumented migrants and stateless individuals. Meanwhile, a health think tank argued that the Ministry of Health must ensure its proposal truly provides medical coverage, taking into account the recurring issue of insurance premiums for migrant workers in Malaysia. Executive Director of Galen Centre Azrul Khalib said migrant workers are already required to have medical insurance to work in Malaysia, but the issue of where the paid premiums are being allocated remains unclear. \"Where does the money from their premiums go? Does the fund used to provide the health protection paid for?\" he asked. Azrul said the proposal itself was not unrealistic, given that the Remedi scheme is open to all refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) up to the age of 60, supported by Allianz. \"The Ministry of Health should involve insurance and takaful managers with expertise to manage the proposal, as this is the best way to manage benefits while providing refugees and asylum seekers access to private healthcare systems.\"",
  "summary": "Tenaganita berkata kerajaan tak boleh nafi hak asas pelarian sambil harapkan mereka penuhi kewajipan kewangan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Bagaimana pelarian tak bekerja bayar insurans, kerajaan disoal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/bagaimana-pelarian-tak-bekerja-bayar-insurans-kerajaan-disoal",
        "published": "2026-10-16T00:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}