KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 15 — About 7,000 to 8,000 Rohingya were sent to third countries each year through intergovernmental cooperation, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
However, he said the process has now stalled due to various constraints faced by the countries involved.
He said the Rohingya ethnic issue was an international issue stemming from the political and security situation in Myanmar, causing Malaysia to accept their presence on humanitarian grounds.
“Malaysia has government-to-government (G2G) cooperation with several countries that allows Rohingya refugees to be temporarily housed before being sent to third countries that need their labor or professional services.
“Recently, the process of resettling Rohingyas to third countries has faced several constraints, causing their movement to the country to be halted, thus raising various issues that require the attention of all parties,” he told reporters after the launch of the Fight Against Scam: Two Teams, One Goal, here, today.
Mohd Khalid said that apart from that, Malaysia also took into account the humanitarian aspect in dealing with the issue, in addition to ensuring that national security continues to be maintained.
“Everyone who comes to this country must follow the laws and regulations that have been set. These people are subject to our laws. If they commit an offence, we will take action just like we do against anyone else who comes to our country,” he said.
He said about 215,000 Rohingya are registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) while local authorities also have their records in collaboration with the Immigration Department to facilitate monitoring.
“We know where they are and what their jobs are. So if any crime occurs involving them, it will be easy for us to take action when we know their location and so on,” he said.
Commenting on crime trends involving the community, Mohd Khalid said the involvement of the Rohingya ethnic group in crime was low, with 89 individuals recorded as being involved in criminal cases for the period 2024 to this year, which is 0.02 percent of the overall crime statistics in the country.
In this regard, he reminded the public not to make statements that could affect public safety and order, while stressing that enforcement action would be taken against any individual who violates the law regardless of nationality.
The media last Saturday reported that Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the rate of resettlement to third countries by the UNHCR was too low for refugees, including the Rohingya, which was one of the reasons why the group remained in the midst of local communities for a long time.
Meanwhile, Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the state recorded 192 cases involving 300 arrests of Rohingya between 2025 and May 2026 involving violent and property crimes.
He said the police always take consistent and continuous enforcement action and are not based on current sentiment.
“The police always work closely with strategic agency partners, for example the Immigration Department and Local Authorities (PBT), we work together to exchange information and carry out integrated operations,” he said at a press conference by the Selangor Commercial Crime Investigation Department, here, today.
Shazeli said last year six integrated operations were carried out throughout the state of Selangor to address the issue.
Commenting on the issue of demolition of illegal settlements, he said discussions on the matter were being held with the local authorities involved so that further, more constructive action could be taken in line with legal provisions.
– BERNAMA
