Malaysia has formally requested that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) temporarily suspend the registration of new asylum-seekers within its borders. According to Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni, the decision was mandated by the Cabinet to facilitate the implementation of the government's own refugee management system, known as the Dokumen Pendaftaran Pelarian (DPP).
The DPP program, which officially came into force in January, aims to establish a nationally controlled framework for processing asylum-seekers. Lukanisman stated that the initiative allows the government to coordinate data, verify identities, and monitor individuals without relying on foreign entities. He emphasized that the government intends to manage these processes in a more organized manner, asserting that the change is necessary to reduce the burden of hosting a large refugee population and to exercise stricter control over admissions.
As of late February, the UNHCR reported approximately 215,600 refugees and asylum-seekers registered in Malaysia. The vast majority of these individuals originate from Myanmar, including 126,144 Rohingya, 15,774 Chins, and 33,002 members of other ethnic groups. While the government has ordered a pause on new registrations, Lukanisman indicated that authorities would continue to cooperate with the UNHCR, suggesting the agency could focus its efforts on the resettlement of already-registered refugees to third countries.
The move comes amid a broader crackdown on undocumented migrants. Last year, Malaysian authorities arrested roughly 92,000 individuals, a significant increase from 12,000 in 2021. Currently, about 21,000 people remain in immigration detention centers, where the government has blocked UNHCR access since 2019. Furthermore, the Deputy Foreign Minister announced that approximately 5,000 Myanmar nationals currently in detention are slated for repatriation via naval ships once the Myanmar government is prepared to accept them.
Public sentiment toward refugees, particularly the Rohingya, has grown increasingly hostile, with some figures labeling them as intruders or criminals. Human rights organizations have expressed deep concern over the new registration suspension. Divya Shesshsan Balakrishnan of Amnesty International Malaysia urged the government to clarify how asylum-seekers can secure protection during this period and demanded transparency regarding assessment processes for those facing deportation to Myanmar.
While the UNHCR has described the DPP as a potential step toward a nationally owned approach to protection, the program reflects Malaysia's desire to bypass what it considers overly liberal refugee criteria. Because Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the government remains focused on tightening immigration enforcement and reducing reliance on international oversight.
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