While the world prepares to celebrate Refugee Day tomorrow, the flame of hope in Malaysia remains a distant faint glimmer, said a group of non-governmental organisations.

In a joint statement today, the group said the refugee situation in this country has not been given adequate attention.

Malaysia has over 50,000 documented refugees and many more undocumented refugees.

"However, they are perceived with ill-regard and declined their fundamental rights to shelter, healthcare and education as a result of their indefinite status," claimed the group.

Furthermore, they said, Malaysia refuses to recognise the refugees as it has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention.

The group also noted the lacking of a national or regional mechanism that directly address the complex need of refugees.

Stressing on the importance of providing adequate protection for refugees, the group said in Malaysia, refugees are caught in a crossfire between exclusionary immigration policies and their inability to return home.

Stark contradiction

"The invisibility of refugees in this country needs to be addressed. Our society needs to understand that refugees exist and live amongst us.

"It is a stark contradiction when we speak and commend ourselves of being a tolerant and accepting society when xenophobic attitude towards the large refugee population still exist," it added.

The group said Malaysians must collectively realise the need to extend their virtues of tolerance and acceptance towards the refugee community.

"Only through this collaborative effort may we be able to reaffirm refugees' right to human security in this country," it added

In conjunction with the World Refugee Day, the group called on the government as well as members of society to acknowledge these refugee communities, facilitate their integration into this country and affirm their basic human rights.

The statement was endorsed by the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Labour Resource Centre, Malaysian Care, National Human Rights Society (Hakam), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and Tenaganita.