Malaysia Govt begins refugee registration, starting with Rohingya detainees

Photo: New Mandala

Arakan Now | 22 Jan 2026

The Malaysian government has begun registering refugees under its refugee registration document (DPP) system from Jan 1, starting with Rohingya detainees held at immigration depots nationwide, according to Free Malaysia Today.

Holders of the DPP will be allowed to remain in the country temporarily until they are repatriated to a third country or returned to their homeland.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the registration exercise will initially focus on Rohingya refugees, including those detained at 16 immigration depots across the country. The process will also cover children housed in four Baitul Mahabbah care centres managed by the immigration department.

The centres serve as temporary shelters for children under the age of 10 who were born in immigration detention facilities or abandoned after their parents were detained during immigration raids.

“These groups of refugees will be moved in phases to a special refugee and asylum seeker processing centre in Bidor, Perak, where they will undergo interviews to determine their status as refugees,” Saifuddin said in a written parliamentary reply.

He said 26 detainees were transferred to the Bidor centre on Jan 9 as the first group under the new system.

According to Saifuddin, the ministry has so far recorded the personal details of 4,003 detainees held at immigration depots nationwide.

Under the DPP system, all refugees and asylum seekers are required to register with the government to obtain the document, which aims to allow Putrajaya to better manage and monitor the refugee and asylum seeker population.

Saifuddin said an evaluation committee will first assess applicants and make recommendations based on interview outcomes, after which a special committee will decide whether an individual qualifies for refugee status.

“DPP holders will be allowed to reside in the country temporarily until their final arrangements are carried out,” he said, referring to their relocation to another country or repatriation to their country of origin.

The DPP system is intended to replace the existing refugee registration mechanism managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The government has previously described UNHCR’s unilateral management of refugee registration without official government involvement as a potential security risk.