Refugee policy to balance national security, humanitarian concerns – Saifuddin

Saifuddin Nasution says refugee management requires a balanced approach, considering both national security and humanitarian values

PUTRAJAYA: The government will manage the refugee issue in the country in a balanced manner, taking into account both national security and humanitarian considerations, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He said an approach driven solely by emotion would not resolve the long-standing issue and stressed the need for wise and responsible management.

“I am aware that public sentiment is increasingly rising on refugee management. On social media, the message is largely the same.

“The general view is for refugees to be deported or turned away. However, as a government, we cannot act based on emotion. We must consider the broader context and balance national security with humanitarian values,” he said when speaking at the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly here today.

He dismissed claims that the government was arbitrarily issuing identities to refugees, stressing that such allegations were inaccurate and misleading.

“There are accusations suggesting the government is carelessly giving identities to refugees, as if we have no laws or system in place…as though this is a ‘cowboy country’. That is not true, and we will not compromise on security,” he said.

Saifuddin stressed that the Home Ministry places strong emphasis on national security and public order in managing refugee-related matters, which remain a concern among the public.

“We cannot avoid managing this issue. It must be handled wisely and humanely, while still safeguarding the country’s security, the people’s interests, and our international standing,” he added.

Previously, media reports stated that a petition calling for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees or their resettlement in third countries had gathered more than 195,000 signatures as of Thursday.

The petition, launched by the Aku Anak Malaysia account on May 29, is also aiming for one million signatures and calls for alternative solutions to address the influx of refugees.