Joint Press Statement
International Refugee Day:
"Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive"
20 June 2006

Today countries across the world are celebrating "International Refugee Day" in recognition of the millions of refugees around the world displaced from conflict, persecution and other forms of violence. Unfortunately, the flame of hope for refugees in Malaysia is a distant, faint glimmer.

Needless to say, the refugee situation in this country has not been given adequate attention. There are over 50,000 documented refugees and many more undocumented refugees in this country. However, they are perceived with ill-regard in this country and denied their fundamental rights to shelter, healthcare and education, as a result of their indefinite status. Furthermore Malaysia refuses to recognise them as it has not signed on to the 1951 Refugee Convention. There also lacks national or regional mechanisms directly addressing the complex needs of refugees in this region.

The necessity for adequate protection for refugees in this increasing climate of security is a pressing issue. Very little attention has been paid to the plight of refugees here in Malaysia. The reality for refugees in this country is that they are caught in cross-fire, between exclusionary immigration policies and their inability to return home. They are treated as "illegal' and not undocumented peoples who have been forced to seek refuge in Malaysia due to persecution in their home countries. The vulnerability of refugees leaves them open to further abuse while struggling to survive in Malaysia.

The invisibility of refugees in this country needs to be addressed. Our society needs to understand that refugees exist and live amongst us. It is a stark contradiction when we speak and commend ourselves of being a tolerant and accepting society when xenophobic attitudes toward the large refugee population still exist.

We need to collectively realize that we must extend our virtues of tolerance and acceptance toward the refugee community. Only through this collaborative effort may we be able to reaffirm refugees' rights to human security in this country.

In recognition of "International Refugee Day" there is a stronger urgency to commit ourselves in making refugees' voices heard. We urge the government as well as members of society to acknowledge these refugee communities, facilitate their integration into this country and affirm their basic human rights.

Endorsed By:

Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)
Amnesty International Malaysia
Labour Resource Centre
Malaysian Care
National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Tenaganita