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| Syed Hamid (third from right) handing out food aid to the Rohingya community here. |
Syed Hamid: Malaysia should create separate registration
system for Rohingya refugees
SELAYANG: Malaysia should implement a separate registration
system to keep track of Rohingya refugees in the country, says Tan Sri Syed
Hamid Albar.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Special Envoy
for Myanmar told reporters that at present, many Rohingyas were unable to find
jobs, get education for their children or even seek medical attention.
"We must have a system of registration. It would be
easy for them to get jobs and make them not illegal. A card system like the
immigration card (IMM13) can be issued to them.
"The UNHCR cards only show that they are refugees. We
want them to have rights until problems in their country are solved under
international laws," he said at a press conference after handing out food
aid to the Rohingya community here.
Syed Hamid, who is a former foreign minister, explained that
the system was necessary to prevent the refugees from being exploited by any
groups.
He said although there was no legal system in place for
refugees, Malaysia had opened its doors to accommodate them.
"At present in Malaysia, they are all over the place.
We don't want them to be exploited by any groups," he added.
Syed Hamid also explained that Malaysia has not signed the
1951 UN Refugee Convention as it would lead to an influx of refugees.
"We are an open country, we are a maritime state. If we
open our shores, a lot of refugees will come in. That is why we have to be
careful," he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had previously said he
would fight against the Myanmar government over the abuse of the Rohingya
community.
Last month, thousands of Rohingyas gathered at the Myanmar
embassy here to protest the violence against their community in Myanmar.