COMMENT It is with disgust that I read about the blatant xenophobic, fear-mongering, inhumane and generally just ignorant responses that have followed news of Malaysia turning away boat refugees from Myanmar.

It may be the examination season for students, but that is no reason not to do a little fact-checking before commenting on Facebook. Here are some common myths and lies on refugees, debunked and explained.

We don’t owe those refugees anything. They’re trying to come here illegally!

No! While Malaysia isn’t a party to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the major United Nations treaty dealing with the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers), that does not mean we have no obligations under international law in relation to refugees...