KUALA LUMPUR: Stressing that Malaysia is a transit nation rather than a permanent destination, Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief (Mahar) has urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to expedite the resettlement of Rohingya refugees from Malaysia.
Emphasizing that Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Mahar said the responsibility for resettling refugees in third countries lies with the UNHCR.
It said the resettlement process should be carried out more swiftly, noting that some Rohingya refugees had remained in Malaysia for up to 15 years.
“The fact that some Rohingya refugees have been waiting up to 15 years in Malaysia is clear evidence that this process is far too slow. Mahar urges UNHCR to accelerate the resettlement process without further delay,” it said in a statement on Saturday as reported by Bernama.
The organisation said it shared concerns raised by several international Rohingya groups over the plight of the refugee community in Malaysia, acknowledging the suffering endured by the Rohingya under Myanmar’s military junta.
However, Mahar said the prolonged presence of more than 200,000 refugees had placed considerable pressure on Malaysia’s economy, public services, community security and social fabric.
It said many refugees, who lack a legal pathway to employment, were compelled to seek livelihoods outside the law in order to survive, adding that Malaysia should not shoulder the burden alone.
“The international community and UNHCR must shoulder this responsibility more seriously and effectively,” it said.
Mahar also stressed that possession of a UNHCR card does not exempt refugees from complying with Malaysian laws, adding that everyone in the country, regardless of status, must respect local laws, customs and social values.
The organisation said refugees’ basic needs, including shelter, education, healthcare and regulated employment opportunities during their stay in Malaysia, should be addressed through a structured and comprehensive approach to reduce dependence on welfare assistance.
It also called on the 40 Rohingya organisations that recently issued a joint statement to expand their humanitarian role by educating refugees about their responsibilities while in Malaysia, encouraging respect for local customs and intensifying international pressure on Myanmar’s military junta to end the persecution of the Rohingya.
Meanwhile Mahar president Jismi Johari said humanitarian work also involved ensuring the safety of both refugees and host communities.
He said while concerns among Malaysians over public safety were valid, no community should be unfairly generalised, adding that lasting solutions required greater commitment from the UNHCR, the international community and Myanmar, rather than Malaysia alone.
