Malaysia Does Not Intend To Become State Party To Refugees Convention

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia does not intend to become a state party of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 and Its Protocol, 1967. Foreign Deputy Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said Malaysia needed to study in depth, the impact and implication of participating in any international instrument, especially in terms of threat to security, an increase in social problems and financial burden to the government. "In this regard, a thorough study should be carried out carefully by the government before a decision is taken for Malaysia to join an international instrument, including whether the relevant international instrument could be implemented under the country's legislation," he said when winding up the debate on the 11th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat (Lower House of Parliament) here Wednesday. Regarding the government's initiative in addressing human trafficking and illegal entry of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, Hamzah said Malaysia as ASEAN Chairman had agreed with other ASEAN countries, including Indonesia and Myanmar, in addressing the crisis which had received wide international coverage. "We also stress that the international community should bear the burden together, in this case, with appropriate assistance, especially financial assistance to the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia to cover the cost for the temporary protection of Rohingya and Bangladeshi victims of human trafficking," he said. -- BERNAMA