CNI News

10 Mar 2023

The issuance of UNHCR cards and related documents will be suspended for one month until 30th April, 2023 for technological upgrades, according to a statement released by the UNHCR Malaysia.

There were no suspensions like that in the past and it causes difficulties for ethnic refugees from Myanmar, Director General U Nyi Nyi Lwin of the Centre for Arakan Refugee told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "There is an enormous impact because the immigration and the police will arrest those who do not have the cards and it is impossible to try to release them. Refugees will face difficulties, arrests, health problems, free movement and unemployment. If they have UNHCR cards, they have access to medical treatments and a 50 percent discount for treatments. Some refugees have to stay in hospital for months or undergo surgical operations and spend as much as 50,000 Ringgits. It is difficult to hospitalize them without UNHCR cards and even if they have access to hospital care, it costs a lot of money for them."

Myanmar workers in Malaysia.

The issuance of UNHCR cards and related documents will resume as of 1st May but it was reported that refugees are allowed to apply for such documents during the suspension.

There are difficulties in applying for the documents as usual and only about one percent of applicants can get the documents.

An official from the Alliance of Chin Refugees said, "There is no discrimination against foreigners. However, the UNHCR is very slow in issuance of Refugee Status Determination. We hope that the agency will issue RSD as quickly as possible after the technical maintenance. There are delays in registration. Therefore, refugees from around the world in Malaysia are in great trouble. They don't have access to their safety and health."

Myanmar workers in Malaysia.

Although there were negotiations between the new Malaysian government and the UNHCR, there has been no official announcement concerning refugees, according to ethnic organizations.

Authorities have been intensifying the arrest of undocumented migrants and ethnic refugees from Myanmar are required to be cautious when the issuance of UNHCR documents, ethnic organizations have warned.