The Minister of the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Zaliha Mustafa, said that the government is planning to permit UNHCR refugees with legal status to work in Malaysia.
She stated that this initiative aligns with the recent revision of National Security Council Directive No. 23, which outlines policies and mechanisms for managing refugees and asylum seekers.
The government intends to provide various forms of social assistance, including granting refugees registered with the government and the UNHCR the right to work legally.
A thorough study is currently underway to assess workforce demands across different industries.
The decision will be finalized only after all refugees and asylum seekers have registered with the government,” she said.
Zaliha made this statement in a written reply to a parliamentary question from DAP MP Teresa Kok.
She acknowledged that while Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, the government has consistently adopted a humanitarian approach toward refugees, particularly the Rohingya from Myanmar and others seeking shelter.
She further noted that Malaysia allows refugees to remain temporarily under current legal provisions, with the expectation that they will later resettle in a third country or return to their country of origin.
