Malaysia to continue giving assistance to refugees
Published on: Wednesday, September 26, 2018
NEW YORK: Malaysia will continue to render humanitarian assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees from 59 countries seeking shelter in the country, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said here. He said the groups were given access to medical treatment at government healthcare services across Malaysia, while those with communicable diseases were exempted from being charged treatment fees at government facilities."Education services are extended to refugees in Malaysia both through UNHCR as well as NGOs and refugee communities," he said during the High-Level Event on the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) at the United Nations headquarters.ADVERTISEMENT The GCR is a legally non-binding international agreement by UN member countries that will outline specific measures to improve the lives of refugees and their host communities.The global compact is expected to be formally adopted by the UN General Assembly by year-end.Saifuddin said Malaysia hosted 161,146 persons-of-concern, comprising asylum-seekers and refugees, as of Aug 31 this year.He said Malaysia believed that a wholesome approach was essential in ensuring that the welfare of refugees, especially those in protracted situations, was addressed. ADVERTISEMENT "Primarily, governments have the main responsibility, but very often governments cannot act alone. Therefore, Malaysia is cognizant that the protection of refugees and their welfare require a multifaceted approach, whereby the active participation of civil society and the private sector are important elements," he said.Saifuddin also gave the assurance that Malaysia would not neglect its international obligations and commitments in addressing migration induced by war, natural calamities, political unrest and armed conflicts.
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He said Malaysia would continue to improve its migration governance while ensuring its sovereignty, integrity and security concerns were not compromised. Nevertheless, he said, the burden and responsibility of tackling the refugee problem must be equally shared between governments of the source and receiving countries."It cannot and should not be the responsibility of solely just one side. In this respect, policies and measures at the global level must meet the needs of all parties as well as be formulated and implemented with effective participation from all sides," he said. Later, at the high-level plenary meeting on global peace in honour of South Africa's former leader Nelson Mandela, Saifuddin paid tribute to the legacy of the anti-apartheid hero.He said Malaysia and the world remembered the late Mandela for his struggle in playing a decisive role in dismantling apartheid by bringing together all South Africans and championing human rights issues."When Nelson Mandela first visited Malaysia in 1990, he was keen to hear our experiences in nation-building.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"Our country recently concluded its 14th general election where, just as historic as the South African election in 1994, a new government has been empowered through the voice of the people," he said. – BernamaPhoto Source: Bernama