A conference in Kuala Lumpur adopts 10 resolutions urging the government to balance national interests with humanitarian responsibilities for refugees.
KUALA LUMPUR: A conference held in conjunction with World Refugee Day 2026 today adopted 10 resolutions, including a call for the government to formulate a holistic action plan to address refugee-related challenges by balancing national interests, the well-being of local communities and humanitarian responsibilities.
The resolutions were presented at the Kuala Lumpur: Solidarity with Refugees Conference, attended by representatives from civil society organisations, academic institutions, humanitarian bodies, international organisations, community leaders and other stakeholders at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia here.
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said the resolutions and declaration would be shared with Members of Parliament and relevant stakeholders to facilitate further discussions.
He said they reflected the views and experiences of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working directly with refugee communities and were intended to help the government formulate more effective solutions.
“We are also seeking to hold follow-up discussions with stakeholders, particularly the Home Ministry and the National Security Council (MKN),” he told reporters after the event.
The conference, held in conjunction with World Refugee Day observed annually on June 20, was jointly organised by Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia, ABIM and IAIS Malaysia.
Ahmad Fahmi said it aimed to promote a more balanced approach to refugee issues while addressing misconceptions, misinformation and growing anti-refugee sentiment.
He said although Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the country has extensive experience in managing humanitarian issues involving refugees from Vietnam, Syria, Bosnia and Palestine.
“We need to advance a narrative that acknowledges existing challenges while reducing misconceptions. We want to bring this issue back to the middle ground so that it is no longer viewed solely through narratives that are often misunderstood.
“Today, we may be talking about hatred directed at refugees, but if these concerns are not properly addressed, we fear such sentiments could spread to other segments of society,” he said.
Among the resolutions adopted were the rejection of all forms of hatred, discrimination, dehumanisation and incitement against refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable groups, while recognising legitimate public concerns related to security, law enforcement, social well-being and community harmony that should be addressed responsibly and based on facts.
Participants also supported government efforts, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other stakeholders, to strengthen refugee data collection, registration and documentation to ensure more orderly, transparent and effective management.
They also called for greater public education, media literacy and measures to combat misinformation, hate speech and xenophobic sentiments that could undermine social cohesion.
The resolutions further supported the establishment of communication and advocacy mechanisms to help NGOs, activists and humanitarian organisations deal with attacks, slander, disinformation and hate campaigns on social media.
