DEPT TO FOLLOW GOVT POLICY ON ROHINGYA

Entry of Rohingya refugees is an international issue, says director-general

THE Immigration Department will comply with the government’s policy on the entry of Rohingya refugees into Malaysia following the turmoil in Myanmar, says director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

He said the 137 nationwide checkpoints, which were under the purview of the department, would continue to carry out operations according to its standard operating procedures.

“The department is an implementing agency, which will obey any decision, whether to allow Rohingya refugees into (Malaysia) or not.

“All this while, if they were ethnic Rohingya or Myanmar nationals who came into the country illegally, the Immigration Department would arrest them.

“The actions were taken as there were Myanmar nationals who did not have any documentation and some carried United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards.

“However, the entry of Rohingya (refugees) is a different matter as it is an international issue.

“We make a distinction between refugees, such as the Rohingya who need protection, and those who come for economic reasons. Economic refugees are not allowed (to enter Malaysia),” he said here yesterday.

Deputy Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said Malaysia was prepared to accept more Rohingya refugees into the country.

The UNHCR has, so far, issued 56,000 UNHCR cards to Rohingya refugees to allow them to live in the country.

On the status of 44 Rohingya, who were arrested at an illegal assembly in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 30, Mustafar said the matter was pending police investigations. Bernama