Immediate need for comprehensive refugee policy: Charles

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need for a comprehensive refugee policy that looks at access to gainful employment, healthcare and structured education, said Klang MP Charles Santiago (pix).
He added that the policy formation initiative must be done without any further delay as the signing and ratification of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, as promised by Pakatan Harapan in its election manifesto, is a long process.
"We have some half a million refugees in Malaysia and we need a comprehensive refugee policy that looks at access to gainful employment, healthcare and structured education for each and every one of them."
Responding to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's decision to withdraw his support for Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi over her inaction in regards to the Rohingya crisis in her country, Santiago said Malaysia has been vocal about their mistreatment. 
"We need to send a clear message to the Burmese junta that the targeted abuse against its own people is unacceptable, violates their human rights and also transgresses international human rights laws," Santiago said.
On Sept 28, Mahathir had addressed the UN General Assembly on the state of the Rohingya people in Myanmar.
He criticised the authorities in Myanmar and Suu Kyi for denying that the Rohingya people were being murdered and having their homes torched forcing over a million to flee.
Previously, United Nations investigators had said that Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rape of Rohingya with "genocidal intent", and that its commander-in-chief and five senior generals should be prosecuted under international law.