MALAYSIA AND AUSTRALIA SIGN REFUGEE-SWAPPING DEAL

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Australia Monday signed an agreement to swap refugees and asylum seekers.

The deal, the first of its kind in the world, is aimed in the long run at checking human trafficking and other cross border criminal activities.

The pact, which takes effect at midnight, is for the exchange of 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia for 800 in Australia over four years.

The refugees and asylum seekers are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein signed for Malaysia while Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen represented his country.

At a joint news conference later, Hishammuddin described the deal as an "out of the box" approach to the human smuggling problem.

"Our governments are sending a very strong message to the human smuggling syndicates that we are taking this matter very seriously," he said.

Although no specific date was given, Hishammuddin said the first transfer is likely to start this year.

Bowen said the "bold deal" is the beginning of a serious commitment from both countries to deal with human trafficking regionally, adding that it will be watched closely by other countries.

"This is a win for Malaysia, a win for Australia, and a loss for people smugglers," he said.

He said that talks on the refugees swap between the two governments began in December last year.

The programme, estimated to cost AUD$296 million, will be funded by the Australian government.

The agreement allows Malaysian authorities to vet the refugees in Australia to ascertain that they are not in the terrorists watch list, international wanted list or illegal immigrants.

Refugees under the deal will carry a special identification card issued by the Malaysian and Australian governments.

When in Malaysia, Hishammuddin said, the refugees will be placed in a transit centre for 45 days before being moved to the community.

To a question, he said the safety and treatment of the refugees would be according to the benchmark set by the UNHCR and they would be allowed access to health, education and working facilities.

"I don't think UNHCR would have come on board unless those international standards are there. I can give you an assurance on behalf of the Malaysian government that all of them will be treated with dignity," he said.

There are some 93,000 refugees, mainly from Myanmar, in Malaysia.

Earlier, outside the hotel where the signing ceremony took place, a small group of people, mostly lawyers, gathered to protest the deal.

The protestors left after about 15 minutes.
-- BERNAMA