A Malaysian humanitarian organisation has called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to expedite the resettlement of Rohingya refugees from Malaysia to third countries, arguing that Malaysia should serve as a transit country rather than a permanent destination for refugees.

Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief (Mahar) said Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and, therefore, the responsibility for identifying durable resettlement solutions rests primarily with the UNHCR.

In a statement, the organisation urged the UN refugee agency to speed up the resettlement process, noting that some Rohingya refugees have remained in Malaysia for as long as 15 years while awaiting placement in third countries.

“The fact that some Rohingya refugees have been waiting up to 15 years in Malaysia clearly demonstrates that the current resettlement process is far too slow. We urge UNHCR to accelerate the process without further delay,” Mahar said.

Mahar said it shared the concerns raised by several international Rohingya organisations regarding the humanitarian challenges faced by Rohingya refugees in Malaysia and acknowledged that many had fled persecution and violence in Myanmar.

However, the organisation said the prolonged presence of more than 200,000 refugees has placed increasing pressure on Malaysia’s economy, public services, community security and social cohesion.

According to Mahar, the lack of legal employment opportunities has forced many refugees to seek informal means of earning a living, creating additional challenges for both refugees and host communities.

“The responsibility should not rest solely on Malaysia and its people. The international community and UNHCR must assume a greater and more effective role in addressing this issue,” the statement said.

Calls for Respect for Malaysian Laws

Mahar also stressed that possession of a UNHCR refugee card does not exempt refugees from complying with Malaysian laws.

The organisation said all individuals residing in the country, regardless of their legal status, should respect local laws, customs and cultural values.

It further called for a more comprehensive approach to meeting refugees’ basic needs, including access to shelter, education, healthcare and regulated employment opportunities during their stay in Malaysia, saying such measures would reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance.

Appeal to Rohingya Organisations

Mahar also urged the 40 Rohingya organisations that recently issued a joint statement on refugee issues to expand their humanitarian efforts by educating refugees about their responsibilities while living in Malaysia.

The organisation encouraged Rohingya groups to promote respect for Malaysian laws and local customs while continuing international advocacy to increase pressure on Myanmar’s military authorities to end the persecution of the Rohingya community.

Mahar President Jismi Johari said humanitarian assistance should protect both refugees and host communities.

“While public concerns over safety should be acknowledged, no community should be unfairly stereotyped or collectively blamed,” he said.

Jismi added that achieving a lasting solution would require stronger commitments from UNHCR, the international community and Myanmar, rather than relying on Malaysia alone.

 

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