M’sia to continue improving assistance for refugees

PUTRAJAYA: Even though Malaysia has decided not to ratify the 1951 International Convention on Refugees, the country will continue to improve assistance to refugees here and elsewhere in healthcare services, work permits, and education for children, next year.

According to Foreign Minister, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, some of the ideas include having proper guidelines and accreditation for children of refugees attending classes offered by civil society organisations in Malaysia.

“We are working very well with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and I have had several meetings with them. They understand perfectly and they are not pushing us to sign.

“In fact, it is well documented that even though we have not yet signed it, we have not ratified it, but we have done quite a bit.

“In fact, we have done more than some countries that actually ratified the convention,” he said at his office here yesterday.

On the issue of the Rohingya, Saifuddin said Malaysia would decide soon whether to extend the operation of its hospital in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, beyond 2021.

“(If yes) for how many years? Because this involves a budget and you can’t plan ahead unless you have a proper projection,” he said, adding that the extension is decided annually.

On another matter, Saifuddin said Wisma Putra will establish a centre of excellence for maritime services next year in order to strengthen the sovereignty of Malaysian waters.

“We already have a department on maritime but we need to strengthen it, to add people and perhaps, even assets, because looking at the maritime issue, you require some kind of equipment.

“Our borders are very porous, and we have a very large sea area that we have to monitor,” said Saifuddin, who added that the centre of excellence will be staffed by those from the Ministry, and include experts and academicians.

Currently, the responsibilities of handling and overseeing all maritime-related issues – including negotiations on maritime delimitation with neighbouring countries -– lie with the Ministry’s Department of Maritime Affairs.

The measure also fulfils the Pakatan Harapan government’s manifesto of protecting the country’s borders, including through diplomatic efforts and bilateral negotiations.

Saifuddin said the Foreign Ministry has lined up four activities for next year in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, including the ones related to the reform of the UN and its veto system as well as active participation at the 2020 Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty Review Conference.

“What we plan to do is to talk to like-minded countries as much as possible, either to co-host a resolution or a side event, in conjunction with the UN General Assembly, in the third week of September 2020.” — Bernama