Thursday, June 20, 2019

Malaysia Need Enact A Law On Refugees And Asylum Seekers, And Not Extradite Any Person In Violation Of The Principle Of Non-Refoulement


Media Statement –  20/6/2019

Malaysia Need Enact A Law On Refugees And Asylum Seekers, And Not Extradite Any Person In Violation Of The Principle Of Non-Refoulement

-          If Zakir Naik is a aslum seeker or refugee recognized by law, then extradition must be avoided?

On the occasion of World Refugee Day (June 20), MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) urges Malaysia to enact a law on Refugees and Asylum Seekers, which will  also define rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia. 

This becomes all the more important when Malaysia has entered into Extradition Agreements with many countries, where strict adherence to request for extradition may see Malaysia violating the principle of non-refoulement when they send back such refugees and asylum seekers and/or refugees to the very countries they fled from to escape persecution based on "race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion".

The reason May 2019 arrest and return of a Thai National, one Praphan Pipithnamporn, then a  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) recognized asylum seeker, was an embarrassment and was a violation of the principle of non-refoulement. 

The refusal to return to China the 11 ethnic Uighur Muslims in October 2018, on the other hand, was a commendable act.(Asahi Shimbun, 12/10/2018). Malaysian position with regard the Rohingyas seeking asylum in Malaysia is also good. 

Now, Malaysia, who has an extradition agreement with India, may be forced to decide whether to return Zakir Naik to India if India makes a request in reliance of that agreement. The question will be whether the said Zakir Naik, is considered an asylum seeker or refugee by Malaysia. 

Zakir Naik was accorded Permanent Residency (PR) status by Malaysia allegedly in 2015, but it has never been made clear whether Malaysia considers him a refugee or an asylum seeker, and as such is bound to protect him and not send him back to India. 

Having no law on refugees and asylum seekers currently, Malaysian declaration that Zakir Naik is a recognized asylum seeker or refugee will only be a mere political position, which may have more weight if Zakir Naik is also recognized by UNHCR as a refugee or asylum seeker OR Malaysian law considered him a refugee/asylum seeker.

This again raises the importance for Malaysia to have a clear law on refugees and asylum seekers, which will mean Malaysia will have the right to determine who Malaysia considers refugee or asylum seeker in law, and hence entitled to enjoy the full protection of Malaysia, including the assurance that Malaysia will not be in violation of the principle of non-refoulement.  Extradition Agreements cannot, and should not, be used against asylum seekers and refugees recognized by Malaysian law.

Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which really is of little consequence if Malaysia has its own law that recognizes and protects asylum seekers and/or refugees, and adheres to the principle of non-refoulement. 

Asylum Seekers and Refugees need to be accorded legal recognition and status. 

At present, with regard to foreign nationals, Malaysia only recognizes  legal immigrants(or documented), meaning foreigners that are in Malaysia with a valid visa or permit, and all other foreigners are considered ‘illegal’ or undocumented, and as such are subject to be arrested, charged, tried, imprisoned, whipped and/or deported. 

Asylum seekers and refugees would generally fall into the category of ‘illegal’ immigrants, and as such we need a clear law that grants recognition to refugees and asylum seekers, being a special class of foreign nationals. This recognition should starting from the time they seek asylum until the point they are accorded the said asylum seeker or refugee status, and thereafter until they are re-settled in another country or alternatively allowed to remain in Malaysia temporarily or permanently.

Such a law will also determine whether they do have a right to work, carry on small business or earn a living whilst their applications are being processed and thereafter. As it stands, such asylum seekers and refugees  at present do not have a right to work in Malaysia.

At present, Malaysia seem to have an unwritten policy that special treatment be accorded to those seeking or those who have obtained asylum or refugee status from the UNHCR. There is no clear position whether they can work and earn a living in Malaysia. However, the recent arrest and handing over to Thailand a UNHCR recognized asylum seeker shows how inadequate this is to protect refugees and/or asylum seekers.

Malaysia’s new Pakatan Harapan government must enact a law on Refugee and Asylum Seekers, which also will affect the obligations under these Extradition Agreements/Treaties that Malaysia is now a party to. There should be no extradition of persons recognized as asylum seekers or refugees.
MADPET urges Malaysia to enact a law that will govern the treatment and rights of refugees and/or asylum seekers, or those applying for such status;

MADPET also calls on Malaysia to ratify/sign the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and other relevant conventions that will recognize and protect rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia.

MADPET also urges Malaysia to review obligations under existing Extradition Treaties/Agreements, to ensure that it does not violate Malaysia’s obligations under the principle of non-refoulement. Malaysia should never surrender anyone, including an accused or even a convicted person to another country if the said person is then  recognized by Malaysia and/or UNHCR as a refugee and/or asylum seeker

Charles Hector
For and on behalf of MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)




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