Arakan News Agency
A pilot programme to allow Rohingya refugees in Malaysia to work is a positive step taken by the Government with regards to human rights, says Amnesty International Malaysia.
Its executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said about 300 Rohingya would be allowed to work legally in the country under the scheme.
“However, the Malaysian Government and authorities should take one step further to recognise refugees in the domestic legislation and policies, so that Rohingya refugees would be able to be accorded basic rights like the right to work and access to healthcare,” she said when unveiling the Amnesty International Report 2016/17 on Wednesday morning.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that the Government would provide training in semi-skilled areas for Rohingya who are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders.
They could later apply for Temporary Employment Passes which will then enable them to obtain employment.
As of October last year, there were about 150,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia.
More than 135,000 of them are from Myanmar, comprising 54,856 Rohingya, 41,420 Chins, 10,928 Myanmar Muslims, 5,221 Rakhines and Arakanese, and other ethnic groups.
Meanwhile, the Amnesty International Report listed the crackdown on freedom of expression and lack of police accountability among six major areas of concern in Malaysia.
