KUALA LUMPUR – Two more civil society groups have joined the chorus slamming the proposed Tracking Refugees Information System (TRIS) for all UNHCR cardholders, calling it “invasive, dehumanising and open to abuse”.
The Alliance of Chin Refugees and Beyond Borders said in a statement that Malaysia has yet to show any commitment to international laws or humanitarian principles governing the protection of refugees.
They also took issue with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s explanation on the purpose of TRIS – residences of refugees, and for the “purpose of employment or to carry out other matters”.
“What are the ‘other matters’? The protection of refugees has been fashioned out to be about securitisation. As such this is worrying, given the arrest and detention of refugees during immigration raids.
“And not to mention being nabbed by the police even if they have valid UN cards. As such this system will only add to the risk factors they face in the country, as refugees will become easy targets for arrests, detention and even deportation despite Malaysia being bound by the non-refoulment principle.”
The groups also said Hamzah should meet with refugee community leaders and civil society organisations to hear their concerns before proceeding further with this initiative, which looks to be compulsory.
“The TRIS will further control the freedom of movement for refugees, who are already afraid of being stopped by authorities, when in transit. And this will severely hamper their livelihoods as well.”
Yesterday, three rights activists voiced their opposition to TRIS, with North-South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira saying it reeked of xenophobia and was a knee-jerk reaction that would only add to the misconception about refugees.
Meanwhile, civil rights activist and Civicus researcher Josef Benedict echoed Pereira in saying the system would lead to more abuses in Malaysia if it is not done in collaboration with other existing agencies overseeing refugees, like the UNHCR.
“I would be very concerned because it appears there is a real lack of accountability in Malaysia today, with the government going on their own without consultation.”
Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy founder and chairman Azril Mohd Amin said the introduction of TRIS shows that the government has misplaced priorities, when greater effort should be focused on uplifting refugees.
Chiefly, he noted how Malaysia is not a party to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention nor its protocol, and therefore does not recognise refugees.
According to TRIS’ website, refugees and asylum seekers aged between 19 and 59 are required to pay RM500 in order to be officially registered under the system, upon which they would be given a special identification card known as MyRC.
It added that registering under the scheme will minimise the risk of them being arrested by local authorities.
Last Saturday Hamzah was reported as saying that UNHCR cardholders in the country must register with TRIS to identify the whereabouts of refugees and their reporting to the country.
TRIS had undergone trials for several years and its implementation had received cabinet approval.
He added that TRIS implementation had been handed over to a company which, among others, is to ensure the data of all refugees, especially the location of their residences, is known. – The Vibes, July 25, 2022
