The government will begin implementing the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) initiative, starting with individuals held at immigration detention centres, as part of efforts to create a national refugee database managed by Malaysia.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the move aims to strengthen refugee management by allowing authorities to collect more accurate information on individuals seeking refugee status in the country.
He said there are currently about 21,000 detainees at immigration depots nationwide, with around 4,000 of them claiming to be refugees.
Saifuddin said refugee-related matters in Malaysia are currently managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kuala Lumpur, which handles registration, verification and the issuance of refugee cards.
However, he said the government was introducing a second approach where Malaysian authorities would take direct responsibility for the registration process to improve oversight and data management.
“Are we fully satisfied with this arrangement? Not entirely. That is why the government is introducing a second approach where the refugee registration process will be carried out by the government itself,” he said after launching the Malaysian Prison Department’s Kampung Angkat MADANI and Sekolah Angkat MADANI Corrective Community Programme 2026.
He said any decision on whether an individual qualifies as a genuine refugee would only be made after a thorough verification process involving the Immigration Department, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and other relevant agencies.
Saifuddin added that once the screening process is completed, the government will determine whether an individual is eligible for refugee status based on verified information.
He said current estimates provided by UNHCR place the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia between 190,000 and 200,000, but a government-led registration process would provide more comprehensive data.
The database will include details such as names, addresses, age, gender, skills and biometric information including facial and iris recognition to ensure records are properly maintained.
Saifuddin stressed that holding a DPP would not change the existing long-term solutions available for refugees, which remain focused on resettlement in a third country or returning to their home countries once conditions become safe and stable.
