SHAH ALAM, Oct 7 — Selangor aims to obtain data on the number, location, and conditions of refugees and asylum seekers in the state to streamline their management, said Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, political secretary to the menteri besar.
He said the initiative involves joint monitoring with local authorities, as well as discussions with the Immigration Department (JIM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
He added that this measure is crucial given that there are about 215,600 displaced people registered in Malaysia as of February, including over 126,000 Rohingya people.
“Such a large figure demands more organised management, but Selangor needs specific data on their numbers, distribution, and actual conditions in the state,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Saifuddin affirmed plans to coordinate monitoring with local authorities and seek discussions with JIM and UNHCR to examine Selangor-specific data and identify areas where cooperation can be strengthened.
“Based on field observations, I believe the challenges may be even more serious in high-density areas such as Selayang and several other locations,” he said.
Saifuddin added that the Selangor administration intends to support refugee management efforts under the federal government and will address the matter within its power and channels of cooperation.
He also welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s assurance in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that over 10,000 Myanmar nationals have been repatriated since January, following negotiations with Naypyitaw.
Anwar had also said Malaysia is the first country to successfully repatriate Myanmar nationals.
“The prime minister also clarified (yesterday) that no ethnic Rohingya individuals have been repatriated so far and the matter remains under discussion. Therefore, resolving the Rohingya issue requires continuous negotiation, a humanitarian approach, and cooperation between the government and agencies concerned,” he said.
Saifuddin added that views expressed yesterday in the Dewan Rakyat by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman reflect concerns and realities about refugee management in the country, and urged efforts to ensure UNHCR cards are not misused.
“What is permitted and what is not must be clearly explained to cardholders, employers, local authorities, and enforcement agencies to ensure more effective monitoring and to eliminate any avenues for exploitation,” he said.
He remarked that Selangor’s approach to the issue must be firm and systematic yet humane, and that enforcement should not be carried out without oversight.
“The Selangor government is ready to cooperate closely with the Home Ministry, the Immigration Department, local authorities, the UNHCR, and relevant agencies to streamline data collection, monitoring, and field coordination,” Saifuddin said.
