Special registration system needed to help Rohingya refugees in Malaysia: Syed Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR: A special registration system should be set up to assist Rohingya refugees in this country, said Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Special Envoy to Myanmar, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

He said among others, it would enable the refugees registered under the system to obtain jobs and gain access to education and health facilities.

"There are some 50,000 ethnic Rohingyas who are registered with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) in this country, but there are still many others who are not registered. In the UNHCR card, their status is that of refugee.

"What we want is for them to be registered under a system so that they can live under international law until the problems in their country are resolved," he told reporters after launching the 'Garage Giveaway' programme for the Rohingyas, here, today.

He said the system was also needed to prevent the Rohingyas from being victimised by anyone, including human traffickers.
Syed Hamid also said Asean leaders must change their stand of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries so as to help resolve the Rohingya issue in Myanmar.

"We want respect to be given to the dignity of a race that has been transgressed. We want the Rohingya issue to be resolved," he said.

As such, he said, Asean nations must be more open as the Rohingya issue could only be resolved with their involvement. — Bernama