Rohingya refugees holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards are not classified as undocumented migrants (PATI) and fall outside the jurisdiction of the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM).
According to Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, UNHCR cardholders are granted “immunity” from enforcement action over immigration offences involving travel documents or invalid passes.
UNHCR cardholders cannot be prosecuted for immigration offences
Zakaria also clarified that Rohingya holding UNHCR cards cannot be prosecuted for immigration offences such as overstaying or for not having valid travel documents or passes, as reported by Berita Harian.
However, he stressed that they are still subject to other laws enforced by the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Zakaria urged the public to share any information or lodge complaints about undocumented migrants (PATI) so that Immigration can investigate and carry out enforcement operations in suspected areas.
“Immigration enforcement is based on complaints, intelligence and information from the public. All information and complaints received will be investigated. However, the public is advised not to take matters into their own hands. Instead, any information should be handed over to the authorities,” he said.
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