Kuala lumpur: Holders of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards are not immune from enforcement action and remain subject to Malaysian laws if they commit offences. Immigration Department (JIM) director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban emphasized that while valid UNHCR card holders are exempt from detention for immigration-related offences involving the absence of documents, they can still face action by the authorities if they violate other laws.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zakaria stated that JIM's responsibility is to detain individuals without any documents and place them in immigration depots. However, those with a UNHCR card, from a human rights perspective, cannot be detained, but inspections are conducted. He noted that UNHCR card holders could still face consequences if they commit a crime, as the police can take action. Verification of the card's authenticity is conducted, and genuine cardholders are released.
Zakaria made these remarks after attending the Passing-Out Parade for the Basic Immigration Certificate Course and Advanced Immigration Certificate Course Series 1/2026, which involved 124 officers and was officiated by Home Ministry (KDN) secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman at the Malaysian Immigration Academy.
He further explained that the KDN is conducting a comprehensive registration process for all refugees in the country, including those with and without UNHCR cards. This exercise, which has entered its first phase, is set to continue until the end of the year, aiming to reduce reliance on data supplied by the UNHCR to determine the actual number of refugees in Malaysia. Zakaria highlighted that, according to UNHCR data, there are over 200,000 registered refugees from more than 140 countries, with the majority being Rohingya from Myanmar. However, he believes the actual number of refugees in Malaysia exceeds the UNHCR's figures.
Additionally, Zakaria reported that as of June 15, JIM had detained 33,145 foreigners through 5,430 operations nationwide for various immigration offences, with 22,151 placed in immigration depots. He also mentioned that 868 employers, comprising 825 Malaysians and 43 foreigners, had faced action for employing and harboring illegal immigrants without valid work permits and passes.