The government could offset the cost of maintaining refugee centres by allowing refugees to work, said Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun.

He pointed out that the cost of managing the refugee situation is high, even with funding assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"If refugees have jobs, they can support themselves and their families and directly reduce the costs borne by the government. At the same time, they can contribute to the economy," he said.

Sipaun made the suggestion this morning when opening a two-day roundtable discussion on refugee problems and issues, organised by Suhakam in Kuala Lumpur.

He also said the majority of refugees live in "terrible squatter areas without basic facilities" but that, if they have jobs, they would be able to attain basic human rights to housing, health and education.

"Malaysia has one of the best health systems in the region. The government has spent a lot on upgrading this. Suhakam is of the opinion that these facilities should be accessible to refugees in line with the 1951 Refugee Convention," he said.

Malaysia has not signed the convention or the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees 1967.

Sipaun further said that children of refugees should not be denied the right to education.

"As a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, we should protect and keep to the convention's content. (Children) should be given the opportunity to receive education in order for them to achieve a better quality of life," he said.

Rohingya situation

Sipaun also called for clarification on the status of identity documents for Burmese Rohingyas.

"In November the government announced that identity papers will be provided to the Rohingyas. While we welcome this, we feel the matter needs to be properly clarified," he said.

On Dec 6, Home Minister Azmi Khalid denied that there is a process to provide Rohingyas with an identity document. However four days later, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nazri Abdul Aziz confirmed that the proposal would be implemented soon.

Up to now, the Home Ministry has not received approval to recognise Rohingyas as refugees, and has suggested that those concerned should use the IMM13 immigration document to apply to live in Malaysia legally.

Sipaun noted that the Rohingyas "are a unique community as they have no nationality" and, as a result, they do not possess passports or travel documents.

"Suhakam suggests that legitimate asylum seekers be given equal 'specialities' and rights which foreigners legally living in Malaysia enjoy," he said.

The UNHCR has estimated close to 10,000 Rohingyas living in Malaysia.

Economic migrants?

At a press conference afterwards, Sipaun explained his remarks that "a large proportion of asylum seekers from Aceh were thought to be economic migrants" who had left the strife-stricken Indonesian province.

"Some quarters look at these refugees as apparently leaving because of legitimate problems, but there are other quarters who believe they are taking advantage to look for better economic opportunities," he said.

Sipaun said it is sometimes difficult for even the UNHCR to be certain as to whether some Acehnese are genuine asylum seekers.

"As I said earlier, it is important for us to differentiate those leaving their homeland because of a threat - be it in the form of revenge, destruction and religious, racial and cultural oppression - from those leaving just to elevate their economic status," he said.

This, he added, would be among issues to be discussed during the roundtable meeting, which involves officials of the home, internal security and foreign affairs ministries, Prime Minister's Department, and the immigration, prisons and welfare departments.

Other issues involve good governance on refugees' basic rights, information sharing, national security and the treatment of refugees in other countries.

Human rights NGOs Suaram and Hakam will be involved in the discussions tomorrow.