PUTRAJAYA, June 9 — The government will no longer accept Rohingya refugees who enter the country illegally, and will instead deport them back to Bangladesh, said Senior Minister (security cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“The government hereby stresses that it no longer accepts these refugees and we are in discussion with the country involved to arrange for their deportation. The government will be more comfortable if the country can accept Rohingya refugees from Malaysia,” he said.
Speaking at the daily press conference today, Ismail said the government would also hold talks with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Bangladeshi government, through the Foreign Ministry, for the refugees to be sent to a third country.
“Many countries are questioning how Malaysia managed the Rohingya issue and some even claimed that we are inhumane. So, we ask the Foreign Ministry to discuss with these third countries to take in these Rohingya refugees from Malaysia,” he said.
He said that if third countries agreed to take in the refugees, then many issues, especially those involving illegal immigrants in the country, could be resolved.
Ismail Sabri said this when asked to comment on the 269 Rohingya refugees who were detained early yesterday morning after entering the waters of Langkawi.
— Bernama
