Malaysia refugee management and registration

Between 2022 and August 2026, Malaysia recorded 199 index crime cases involving Myanmar refugees, with the highest numbers occurring in Selangor, Kedah, and Johor. To address these issues and enhance national security, the government has implemented the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) program as of January 1, 2026.

The DPP program aims to centralize data management and transition registration and status determination functions from the UNHCR to Malaysian authorities. This initiative allows for biometric registration and security screening. Officials have clarified that the DPP does not grant permanent residency or citizenship, but serves as a time-bound instrument for control to track locations and determine whether individuals should be deported, resettled, or repatriated.

In the first phase of the program, over 4,000 detainees in Peninsular Malaysia were registered, including 4,008 Myanmar nationals. Adults are being transferred to a Special Segregation Centre for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Bidor, Perak. Concurrently, the Malaysian government is negotiating with Myanmar regarding the repatriation of refugee groups following a court decision to reject a request for a stay of proceedings.