UNHCR approves 888,294 applications since 2010 to stay in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 888,294 applications by refugees from various countries to stay in Malaysia were approved by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) from 2010 to September this year.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said refugees from 17 countries were found in Malaysia with those from Myanmar forming the highest number approved at 824,419, according to statistical records of the UNHCR office, here.

He said this was followed by those from Sri Lanka (26,615), Somalia (8,532), Pakistan (7,541), Iraq (6,394) and other countries (14,793).

"The business of determining the status of the refugees' applications is that of the UNHCR in accordance with its charter," he said in his written reply to a question from Er Tech Hwa (DAP-Bakri) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, Wednesday.

Shahidan, however, said the ministry did not have information on the number of applications that were rejected, the ages of the refugees and the lengths of their stay in this country. -- BERNAMA