Opposition parliamentarians and the Migration Working Group have urged the government to put an end to the miseries and distraught faced by refugees seeking asylum in the country.

ivy josiah 01 "Malaysia is in violation of international laws although it has not acceded to international conventions if asylum seekers are not properly treated in the country," said Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) director Ivy Josiah representing the Migration Working Group.

"As Malaysia has not yet enacted domestic laws that recognise, protect and assist asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons, they are treated as non-documented migrants, and are subject to arrest, prolong detention under difficult condition, whipping, imprisonment, and deportation to the Malaysia-Thai border," said the Migration Working Group in a statement.

According to the rights group, there are about 90,000 refugees in Malaysia. They come from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Africa but Malaysian laws and authorities punish and treat them as illegal immigrants.

Sungai Siput parliamentarian Dr M Jayakumar Devaraj described it as ‘very sad’ that “we do not know how to differentiate between illegal migrant workers and refugees”.

"The authorities continue to arrest, detain and sentence asylum seekers for immigration offences, including those who have documentations from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)," he said.

Jayakumar also said Malaysian law enforcers have at times ignore the fact that UNHCR has given refugees appropriate documentation.

Irresponsible few

Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago also echoed Jayakumar's call requesting the government to stop deporting those seeking asylum without valid reasons.

raja nazrin undp book launch 210807 wan azizah Wan Azizah said Malaysia has to expect such problems when one of its neighbours, Burma, is in trouble.

"But we must not allow the country's name to be besmirched by the irresponsible few who are involved in selling people. It's for us to do something to help them," she said.

Santiago said he has raised the issue in Parliament but the home minister did not respond to it.

"The situation is deplorable. No such thing as an illegal person - they may be undocumented but they shouldn't be labelled illegal. Malaysia has to rectify the convention regarding the status of refugees," he stressed.

Asean has to play a major role on this issue because not only are there refugee in Malaysia but in other Asean countries as well.

Santiago said given the Asean charter, Malaysia has a responsibility to provide refugees all the necessary protection.

dap pc 010208 charles santiago He mentioned a recent documentary aired by ntv7 on March 5 highlighting offences undertaken by immigration authorities dealing with refugees mainly from Burma.

The documentary exposed links between smugglers and border enforcement officers involved in trafficking Burmese migrant workers and refugees who are deported back to their country.

"We have heard numerous horrifying accounts where asylum seekers and refugees from Burma are handed over to human smugglers at the border, and demand payment for their release. Those unable to pay the amount are sold to fishing boats, brothels or as bonded labourers," he claimed.

"The government has to reprimand officers selling refugees who are here seeking safe haven to protect themselves from political prosecution in their home land," said Santiago.