Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed's announcement of the government’s policy of taking in Syrian refugees has sparked a Twitter war with a human rights lawyer defending the Rohingyas.

Nur Jazlan yesterday tweeted the government plans to take in 500 more Syrian refugees and had thus far spent RM2 million on them.

Responding to this, Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen replied, “Why do Syrians get special treatment?

“What about the Rohingyas who have been here for decades, some born here, who are still ‘illegals’?” he added.

However, Nur Jazlan pointed out that Malaysia had already taken in some 160,000 Rohingyas to date.

Despite the large Rohingya community in Malaysia, they are not officially recognised as refugees.

“Long term solution - Myanmar government must take them back,” said Nur Jazlan.

Paulsen then replied that the Rohingyas could not possibly go back as they are persecuted by the Myanmar government, describing it as a “slow genocide”.

Nur Jazlan, however, was firm against acknowledging the Rohingyas as refugees.

“Surely you don’t tolerate the Myanmar government’s persecution and not do something to stop it and blame the Malaysian government.

“And how much money is government willing to spend to house them,” he said, insisting that the Myanmar government should take them back.

However, Paulsen said Putrajaya should play a more proactive role to keep the Myanmar government accountable.

“Nobody is blaming the Malaysian government for the persecution but we’d like the government to do more to help their plight.

“And don’t mistreat the Rohingya while they are here,” he added.

Even though the Rohingya have been in Myanmar for several generations, the Myanmar government refuses to recognise them as citizens.

The Myanmar government had moved to drive them out of the country, leaving its neighbours including Malaysia to deal with them.