MALAYSIA may reassess the presence of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the country if the agency does not cooperate more closely with the government on refugee management, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said on Tuesday.
He said stronger collaboration is essential to ensure comprehensive screening is conducted before UNHCR refugee cards are issued, warning that inadequate oversight could undermine national security and place an increasing burden on Malaysia.
“If they do not want to cooperate, then the time has come for us to reconsider the presence of UNHCR in our country. That is my view, so that we are not continually burdened.
“This has become a magnet for refugees to come to Malaysia because there is a UNHCR office here that can issue cards rather freely. That is something we need to manage properly,” he said after observing the early voting process at the Sendayan Air Base.
Mohamad said the Home Ministry is taking steps to ensure that every refugee undergoes a thorough screening process and that approval is obtained from the ministry before any UNHCR documentation is issued.
He stressed that Malaysia requires a formal agreement with the UNHCR to clearly define the agency's jurisdiction, responsibilities and operational boundaries within the country.
“We must have an international agreement so that they know what they can do and what they cannot do.
“But it appears that, at present, there is nothing in place. There are no standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“They submit applications online while still in Myanmar, then come here and simply collect their cards.
“This means our screening process is absent. This is something we need to manage properly,” he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia remains committed to humanitarian principles but must ensure they are balanced against the country's responsibility to protect public order and national security.
“We must safeguard security and public order in our country. We do not want our goodwill to ultimately become a problem for the nation's peace and security,” he said. - July 28, 2026
