More needs to be done for refugees

THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) welcomes the government’s efforts, in association with the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), as well as local and regional NGOs, to address the urgent humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakine State, Myanmar.

Suhakam welcomes that the prime minister has acknowledged that the human rights of the Rohingya must be respected, promoted and fulfilled.

The situation for the stateless Rohingya minority remains perilous, and they have suffered persecution, internal displacement and are subjected to discrimination and hatred on the basis of their ethnic and religious background.

Suhakam welcomes the government’s decision to grant the Rohingya population within our borders temporary shelter. But as Malaysia is hosting about 56,000 displaced Rohingya, Suhakam is of the view that more has to be done for the refugee population as a whole who are already in the country.

Refugees in Malaysia still remain vulnerable as they do not have a right to work, and their children do not necessarily have a right to education.

Our education sector does not entitle refugee children to attend public schools.

Suhakam reiterates its calls on the government to support, through legal framework, refugees’ right to work while they seek temporary refuge.

This in turn will lead to better self-reliance, and the scaling down of programmes that place them in a position of prolonged dependency on humanitarian or government aid.

Suhakam also advises the government to reconsider its education policy for refugee children.

Suhakam believes that as far as the Rohingya are concerned, the government is in a way resorting to applying certain provisions of the 1951 Refugee Convention. It is then timely for the government to proceed to accede to the convention as there is a need for clarity, legal certainty and protection for refugees.

Suhakam stands with the government in advancing the Asean Charter that calls on all member states to adhere to human rights protections for all its citizen, and to uphold the principles enshrined in the Asean Human Rights Declaration.

Tan Sri Razali Ismail Chairman Suhakam