Putrajaya is set to roll out its long-awaited Refugee Registration Document (DPP) system early next year, marking a major step in establishing an accurate count of refugees in Malaysia, including the Rohingya community. Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the system is currently in a proof-of-concept phase, with technical testing and validation underway to ensure it meets operational and security standards. “The DPP system is still in the development stage. The home minister will make an announcement once it is ready. We expect it to launch early 2026,” he told the New Straits Times.
The initiative forms part of a national policy framework led by the National Security Council (NSC) to register all refugees in Malaysia for the first time. Zakaria noted that current reliance on United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) data may underestimate the true scale of the refugee population. “Based on our observations, the real figure may be higher than what UNHCR has reported to us,” he said.
The government plans a full re-registration exercise covering all refugee groups, aiming to provide clearer direction for future policy and management. Zakaria also highlighted issues with fake UNHCR cards detected during enforcement operations, noting that verification with UNHCR is conducted for those arrested. Genuine cardholders are released, while those with fraudulent documents face detention.
The DPP system is expected to streamline verification processes, reduce misuse of fake documents, and provide Malaysia with its first authoritative refugee database.
