A Refugee Registration Database Programme (DPP) is to be set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and coordinated by the National Security Council (NSC), but implemented nationwide through the Immigration Department.
This marks Malaysia’s maiden foray at building its own refugee database, and also on the drawing board is the establishment of a new agency to centralise border enforcement, tighten migration control and improve cross-border management.
The idea basically by the Home Ministry is to enhance data credibility and streamline administration, as the current processes are dependent on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is a slow process.
Up to June 2025, UNHCR has verified around 94,000 refugees in Malaysia, although more than 180,000 UNHCR cards have been issued, most of which are held by Rohingyas. Other refugees in Malaysia are mainly Myanmar, Palestinian and Syrian.
Another measure undertaken by the Home Ministry is a pilot project involving a biometric registration in immigration depots which has witnessed the enrollment of nearly 37,000 individuals under the new system.
A Home Ministry spokesperson stressed that the method involves secure biometric capture, not the filling out of manual forms, to ensure data reliability and more than 70 immigration offices nationwide are participating in this exercise.
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
