Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim has called on asylumseekers arriving in boats to go to Cambodia and the Philippines instead of Malaysia.

 

The two neighbouring countries are the only ones among Asean member states which have signed the UN 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol (UN Refugee Convention).

 

“The Philippines and Cambodia are the signatories of (the UN Refugee Convention) … Go there, lah . Why come to Malaysia?” said Shahidan.

 

He was talking to a crowd of 70 youths attending the 1Malaysia Young Boys Workshop in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

 

“Although we are not a part of (the UN Refugee Convention), yet we still help the foreigners,” Shahidan ( extreme left ) said.

 

Malaysia has not ratified the UN Refugee Convention.

'Social problems'

 

Describing Malaysia as a “victim” of the recent boat people crisis, Shahidan said the refugees brought social problems to the country.

 

“The refugees will take over many places. One day, Petaling Street will also be affected. They are willing to work at very low wages,” he added.

 

Those arriving in boats to the shores of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand comprise mainly of the Rohingya, an ethnic group which remains stateless in Burma, and Bangladeshis.

 

The decision by the three countries to turn back these boats have sparked international outcry and is covered by international publications such as The New York Times, the Guardian, and Al-Jazeera.

 

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has expressed concern for their plight but gave no details of measures to assist them.