Deputy home minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said UNHCR’s current unilateral management of refugee registration without government participation is a security risk. (File pic)
PETALING JAYA: The government will launch its refugee registration document (DPP) system on Jan 1 next year, says deputy home minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
He said the initiative was to tackle security risks and data disorganisation, in line with a National Security Council order to replace the existing registration system managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
“Refugee information and biometrics will be stored in the system.
“Those confirmed as refugees will be issued an official identification document – the sole document recognised by the government,” Bernama reported him as saying during a special chambers session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Shamsul was responding to Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh), who had asked about how the government intended to manage registration and working approvals for refugees in Malaysia.
He said the DPP will provide the government a comprehensive database, complete with biometrics, to monitor refugees and manage them in a more effective and orderly fashion.
Shamsul also said UNHCR’s current unilateral management of refugee registration without government participation is a security risk.
“This means the government has no control over an individual’s application to be considered a refugee, knowledge of the total number of refugees and their location in the country.
“It has also led to cases of disorganised registration, abuse and document falsification.”
Shamsul said the DPP system is now being tested to ensure its stability and effectiveness before its official launch.
He said refugees’ biometric information will be stored for monitoring purposes until certain resolutions are reached, including settlement in a third country, repatriation to the country of origin or deportation should they violate Malaysian laws.
