Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed has slammed the UN refugee agency for supposedly pressuring Malaysia to become a destination country of asylum seekers.

He reportedly urged the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) to stop making announcements to that effect.

“UNHCR is publicly pressuring Malaysia to take responsibility and accept these people. We have accommodated the refugees based on their (UNHCR’s) request, but only on the understanding that Malaysia is a transit country.

“It is not fair to force Malaysia’s hand to take responsibility for the refugees. Malaysia is a transit country, but suddenly they want us to be a final destination?” the New Straits Times quoted him as saying in a report today.

“I would appreciate it if they stop making announcements like this,” he added.

According to daily, Nur Jazlan was responding to a speech by the UNCHR Malaysia representative Richard Towle yesterday.

Towle was launching an upgraded identity card issued to refugees in Malaysia, which boasted a number of new and improved security features compared to the old one.

The project was funded by Australia, and UNHCR hoped that the improved security could be the basis for the Malaysian government to allow refugees to seek jobs and education in the country.

Last year, Towle was quoted by The Star saying that the number of places available to resettle refugees in Malaysia is diminishing, due to conflicts in the Middle East and Africa that are garnering international attention.

They are currently some 150,000 registered refugees in Malaysia, and an unknown number of unregistered refugees.

However, Nur Jazlan did not appear to be impressed.

“The new improvements to the card are only in terms of security enhancements and features.

“I question the criteria under which the card is issued,” he reportedly told the NST.

He also reportedly chided that Australia should host refugees if they were so interested in supporting them.

“They are trying to push the project here by giving money. Since they support the cause, why don’t they take in these people? It would be a bigger contribution,” he was quoted as saying.

He pointed out that refugees received by Australia didn’t even live on Australian soil, but were instead housed on Christmas Island and Nauru.