Human rights body Suaram has rebuked the Malaysian government for its myopic policy of classifying all asylum-seekers as 'illegal immigrants', including those escaping war and persecution.

Suaram co-ordinator Eric Paulsen said the government's "crude big stick approach" to lump Acehnese as undocumented persons will not solve the problem, but would intensify suffering and even sign their death warrant if they are forced to return home to the Indonesian province.