The Malaysian government is taking initiative via its new Tracking Refugee Information System (TRIS) to gather refugees’ data in an effort to improve their quality of life probably by providing them job opportunities, basic education and healthcare in near future.
Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed told The ASEAN Post (in a press meet) that the government will look into the matter in two dimensions - solving the issues of the existing refugees in Malaysia and preventing more refugees from coming into the country.
He added that there is a need to identify the refugees to ensure that the government have their updated and comprehensive database to decide the next course of action like providing basic necessities for their better life.
Nur Jazlan said this is an initiative taken by the Malaysian government on top of the existing United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) biometric card system.
He said under the TRIS system, which took off in April this year, has only 291 refugees registered.
When asked on the assimilation initiative for refugees into our socio and economic development, he said the question of assimilation in the country can only be answered once the total number of refugees have been identified.
He added saying that generally many come to Malaysia for varied reasons, including that the country has strong economic growth and ample job opportunities.
He said these factors make Malaysia an attractive destination for refugees to benefit from the various opportunities available here.
Nur Jazlan said other neigbouring countries in ASEAN like Thailand also suffers from similar issues but not as severe as it is in Malaysia.
He said with the TRIS system in place, the government will be able to manage the issues involving refugees in a more proper manner and this will enable the country to get obtain better ratings in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
UNHCR when contacted by The ASEAN Post, said that the organisation is working closely with the Malaysian government to address the complex challenges of refugees and mixed migration in the country.
“We are fully improved in our co-operation with the government to find ways that better protect refugees which, at the same time, address any legitimate concerns about security, law and order,” it said in the reply.
A refugee holds her UNHCR card during waiting for turn to register for MyRefugee Card (MyRC) at the Tracking Refugee Information System (TRIS) centre in Kuala Lumpur, on 02 August 2017. (The ASEAN Post/Khushrin Lani)
It said this includes working closely with Malaysia’s Home Affairs Ministry by offering advice and assistance to a contracted company which has been engaged by the government to implement a pilot registration scheme.