Malaysia halts UNHCR refugee registration, sparking concerns

The Malaysian government announced a temporary suspension of UNHCR refugee registration while it develops a national refugee registration system known as the Department of Protection (DPP). Asylum Access Malaysia (AAM) warned that halting UNHCR registration could leave asylum seekers undocumented and vulnerable to arrest, detention, and refoulement, as the DPP is not yet operational outside detention centres and details on eligibility or procedures have not been disclosed.

AAM also raised alarm over the proposed return of around 5,000 Myanmar nationals currently detained, questioning whether proper protection assessments have been conducted given the ongoing human‑rights violations in Myanmar. The NGO urged the government to maintain registration continuity through a joint transition plan with UNHCR, to halt immigration actions against pending registrations, to establish interim protection measures, and to provide full transparency on any return decisions.