ArchiveS
INTERVENTION (3C) : INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, 29 OCTOBER 2021
STATEMENT BY
MR. LUTFI SHEIKH GHAZALI
LONG TERM DELEGATE TO THE 76TH UNGA,
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE SESSION WITH
MR. FILIPPO GRANDI
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
29 OCTOBER 2021
Mr. Chair,
I thank the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for the report.
2. Although Malaysia is currently not a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol, the Government continues to provide assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia on humanitarian grounds. We have almost 200,000 registered refugees. Such a large number is of concern to Malaysia. Most of them are likely to be in the country for a long period of time owing to the slow resettlement process. There has also been a sizeable number of UNHCR Cardholders who have been in Malaysia with no prospects of resettlement.
3. Malaysia calls for proportionate burden and responsibility sharing especially among the signatory countries of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. We reiterate that all Member States must work together to address the root causes and find sustainable solutions to prevent the occurrence of humanitarian crises which has caused forceful displacement.
4. The international community should also seriously look into combatting smuggling and trafficking of persons, where human trafficking syndicates exploit the vulnerability of others in facilitating and profiting from onward movement of those refugees to third countries including Malaysia.
Mr. Chair,
5. Despite having need to faced the pandemic with stretched resources and overwhelmed healthcare capacities, asylum seekers and refugees in Malaysia are also given COVID-19 vaccines under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme. The Malaysian Government has adopted the position that vaccinating all peoples in Malaysia is beneficial to the nation as a whole and in line with the spirit of leaving no onebehind.
6. Lastly, Malaysia wishes to emphasise that the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments must remain voluntary to allow States to contribute to the best of their ability based on their own capability and resources. We attach great importance to regional and international cooperation in addressing refugees and migration issues and challenges. Malaysia will continue to undertake its responsibilities to protect and improve its governance on refugees, while at the same time ensuring its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are not compromised.
I thank you.