The public has been urged not to take matters into their own hands against refugees allegedly involved in wrongdoing or causing concern among local communities, but instead to report complaints to the authorities for legal action.
Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said complaints about refugees whose behaviour was deemed unacceptable by local residents should be referred to the police or relevant authorities for appropriate action.
“The cooperation Malaysians can provide is to report to the authorities any behaviour or actions by individuals said to be refugees that are disliked by local residents or communities,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
“The police and other relevant agencies are the authorities responsible for enforcing the law. The best way to maintain order in a country is to leave it to the authorised parties to carry out their duties.
“This means avoiding taking action on our own. I understand that some activists have made efforts of this kind, and we appreciate their efforts because they reflect the community’s unease about the presence of these individuals,” he added.
Saifuddin was responding to Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau), who sought the government’s views on individuals or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) allegedly raiding Rohingya communities and demanding that they produce cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Jimmy questioned the alleged aggressive conduct of these groups, which appeared to act as if they had enforcement powers despite Malaysia having laws and agencies responsible for enforcing regulations.
Saifuddin also addressed viral allegations that some refugees had entered Malaysia using passports from other countries before applying for UNHCR cards.
“Some people have even gone to refugee camps and posted online claiming they had detected individuals entering from overseas using another country’s passport before obtaining UNHCR cards.
“If they are refugees who entered using a passport and subsequently applied for refugee status, that process does not involve our authorities at all. It falls under UNHCR’s screening process,” he said.
Saifuddin said anyone making such allegations had a responsibility to approach the relevant authorities so that the matter could be investigated in accordance with Malaysian law.
