Malaysia will not allow refugees to work in the country despite a plea by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, a senior official said today.
Human Resources Deputy Minister Ismail Muttalib told the Senate that allowing the more than 150,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in the country to work could create more employment problems.
On Monday, the Malaysian UNHCR representative went to the parliament to ask legislators to allow UNHCR cardholders to have a work permit.
“The country might be flooded with the cardholders to a point we cannot control their entry,” he said, adding that there are already 1.9 million foreign workers in Malaysia and an estimated more than 1 million illegal workers.
Malaysia, which is one of the more developed countries in South-East Asia, is a favourite destination of workers from its less developed neighbours such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia.
- dpa
Rohingya Refugee Pines For Wife, Child Detained At Immigration Depot
By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa
ALOR SETAR, June 24 (Bernama) -- In this blessed month of Ramadan, a former detainee at a human trafficking camp in Padang Besar, Thailand longs to meet his wife and child, currently detained at the Belantik immigration depot in Sik.
Such is Muzamil Hamid Hussein's desperation and longing for his family that he hopes the Malaysian authorities show some compassion in the holy month to fulfill his wish.
According to the Rohingya refugee, his wife, Menara Mohamad Shafi, 22, and their son, Nur Mustafa, two years and five months were nabbed last month when the boat they were travelling in, landed in Langkawi last month.
"The last time I met them was about a year ago before I left home in Maungdaw, Myanmar by boat to head for Malaysia.
"I hope the Malaysian authorities have some compassion in this month of Ramadan and on humanitarian grounds, allow me to be with my wife and child," Muzamil, 24, a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card holder told BERNAMA in Alor Setar.
--BERNAMA
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