Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution denies UNHCR’s claim, stating only two visit requests were received this year and access was not blocked
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has strongly rejected a claim by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that it is blocking access to immigration detention depots.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the country has never denied any visit requests from the agency.
He insisted that only two such requests have been received throughout this entire year.
“The perception that the country is blocking access must be corrected,” he said when addressing the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly.
Saifuddin was responding to a New York Times report quoting UNHCR as saying it has been barred from visiting depots since 2019.
The agency said this hinders its ability to identify refugees and assess detention conditions.
Last March, the minister said the ministry was prepared to allow visits but noted several procedures would need to be followed first.
Separately, Saifuddin addressed a recent viral incident involving dress codes at police stations.
He said the public should adhere to the requirement to dress modestly when lodging reports.
However, he stressed that police will still accept reports even if an individual does not comply with the prescribed dress code.
“The priority of the police is to assist members of the public who need help,” he said.
Saifuddin said filing reports is a core duty of the country’s security forces.
“It is the duty of the police to receive reports,” he added.
He explained that a circular on dress codes serves as a guide for dealing with government offices.
The minister was commenting on an incident at the Melaka district police headquarters.
A woman was allegedly denied entry for violating the dress code for government premises.
It is understood she was involved in an accident while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Johor.
She was reportedly barred because the skirt she was wearing was above the knee. – Bernama
