Give refugees a chance

THE disastrous civil war in Syria as well as ongoing military conflicts and sectarian violence in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, among others, have resulted in a massive flood of people fleeing their homeland.

According to a UNHCR report in 2015, there were 21.3 million refugees around the world. To get a clearer picture of its scale, the entire population of peninsular Malaysia is estimated to be 22.5 million.

I recently had the privilege to attend a 10-day seminar in Germany which examined the topic of freedom of movement for refugees. It was organised by the Friedrich Neumann Foundation, a not-for- profit body that promotes individual liberty. There were 24 other participants, mostly lawyers and human rights activists, from all corners of the world.

Refugees are people fleeing conflict or persecution and their rights are protected under international law. They are distinct from economic migrants insofar as refugees cannot return to their country of origin because they might face serious threats to their life or freedom. The most memorable experience of the entire trip was a site visit to a refugee camp in Hamburg. It was a surreal experience and I got to interact with refugees who had left their homes in the Middle East.

I was almost moved to tears when I heard the heart-wrenching personal stories of the people I met. One Syrian refugee told me of his previous job as a mechanic in Aleppo. He had lived a comfortable, middle class life with his wife and children but lost everything when the civil war broke out in 2012. He was forced to flee his home and family and start afresh, alone in a country he knew nothing about, and where people conversed in a language that he did not understand.

His story made me realise that refugees are just like you and I. They too have hopes, dreams, and fears and are willing to work hard and make sacrifices to have a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

Malaysia is seen by many as a safe haven for refugees to relocate to. In fact, there are currently 151,560 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR Malaysia. Refugees from Myanmar account for approximately 90% of the overall figure, which also includes the ethnic Rohingya who face brutal oppression due to their Muslim heritage. Refugees see Malaysia as a transit point while they wait to be resettled in third countries like Australia and America.

It is very unfortunate that Malaysia has refused to sign the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol to recognise the status of refugees. As a result, the Government views refugees as illegal immigrants. Refugees are thus treated as people who have committed a crime, and are thus liable to harsh punishment such as being fined, detained or arrested by the police and immigration officers at any time. They are forced to live in the grey area of society where they are subject to all kinds of inhumane exploitation or abuse.

The reluctance of the Malaysian Government to recognise refugees also makes it difficult for these men and women to find legitimate jobs within the formal economy. Even if both parties find it mutually advantageous, businesses dare not hire refugees for fear that the police might barge in with arrest warrants.

The failure to accept and recognise refugees also prevents this vulnerable group from having access to basic human rights like education and healthcare. This situation is especially critical for the 34,000 refugee children in Malaysia who are below the age of 18.

Signing the UNHCR Refugee Convention would be the most humane solution to Malaysia’s refugee situation.

In the short run, however, the Government can ease the plight of refugees by doing two things. First, and most important, is to stop perceiving refugees as illegal immigrants and granting them the right to work legally.

This is in our economy’s interest. Refugees can provide useful services, especially in the service and manufacturing sectors. Many empirical studies have shown that an inflow of people into a country boosts economic growth and GDP levels in the long run. Furthermore, refugees are often more industrious and don’t complain as much as locals when given tasks to complete. This would be good news for local business owners especially in our present economic situation.

Second, the Government should work closer with the UNHCR to get a better understanding of the refugees who are in Malaysia.

There is often a negative perception among locals and government officials that refugees account for much crime and anti-social activities.

If the Government recognises these refugees and allows them to function like regular citizens during their stay Malaysia, it would be able to track and monitor their activities more effectively.

It would also distinguish refugees from illegal immigrants who come from safe countries but choose to stay in Malaysia without a valid visa.

As a proud Malaysian, I would like to urge the Government and my fellow countrymen to be more compassionate to refugees and help them in any way we can. Compared with those who are forced to leave their homes due to unfortunate circumstances, we Malaysians are blessed.