PAS MP calls for humane approach to Rohingya refugees amid calls for tighter controls

In a parliamentary debate, PAS lawmaker Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman urged the Malaysian government to implement a balanced approach in managing Rohingya refugees, emphasizing the need for a humane and just immigration policy that also safeguards national security.

He advocated for comprehensive measures, such as a digital identification system to distinguish refugees from other migrants and called on ASEAN to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar.

Additionally, Tarmizi expressed concern over rising xenophobia and hate speech against refugees, urging effective government action to counter such narratives while maintaining adherence to humanitarian and legal principles.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — PAS lawmaker Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman today called on the government to strike a balance in managing Rohingya refugees, saying a strict immigration policy must also be humane.

“We must protect national security, control our borders, and maintain strong registration systems, but in doing so, we cannot lose our humanity and sense of justice,” Sik MP Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman said when addressing the House during a debate on refugee management.

Focusing on the conflict in neighbouring Myanmar as the primary driver of displacement into Malaysia, Ahmad Tarmizi urged Asean to step up diplomatic pressure for a political resolution.

“Refugee flows will not end as long as the causes driving people from their homes remain unresolved,” he said, calling for an end to violence against civilians, particularly in Rakhine State, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and inclusive political dialogue.

To address operational issues, Ahmad Tarmizi endorsed government plans for a standardised digital identification system equipped with biometric tracking, background security checks, transparent status determination and inter-agency audit checks.

Such a system, he said, would properly distinguish genuine refugees from economic migrants, undocumented immigrants and victims of human trafficking.

“Refugees are not necessarily illegal immigrants, and victims of human trafficking must not be treated as criminals,” he said, warning against rising hate speech and xenophobia on social media while stressing that human rights protections do not grant non-citizens immunity from local laws.

Ahmad Tarmizi also voiced opposition to any potential government move to invite Myanmar’s military junta leader to diplomatic talks, citing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant application against the junta chief.

“Inviting the junta chief would violate our principles and inflict severe diplomatic damage on Malaysia’s global standing,” he said.

Xenophobia, hate speech must stop

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said 214,079 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Malaysia as of December 2025, alongside more than 90,000 individuals detained in enforcement operations in 2025.

Ahmad Tarmizi said the Rohingya community in Malaysia had faced intense xenophobic attacks in recent months, which he attributed to what he described as the government’s failure to manage the refugee issue effectively and counter hateful propaganda.

“Do not allow hate speech and xenophobia to dominate society. While I also want to place very critical emphasis on this issue of refugee management, specifically regarding extreme hatred, hate speech and xenophobia, which are increasingly easy for certain quarters to exploit, particularly through social media,” he said.

“However, I emphasise that upholding humanitarian principles does not mean defending every action of individual refugees,” he added.

“If a refugee commits a crime, breaks the law, disturbs public order, engages in violence, exploits others, or commits any offense, they must face Malaysian law.”

Malaysia’s statutory debt at RM1.295t, or 63.9pc of GDP, still within legal limit, says Auditor General’s report

Chicken curry, evening drives and a white cat: Song Swee Guan’s family remembers the man behind the Sarawak politician

Planes, not just ships: Myanmar says most migrants returned from Malaysia flew home, as UN criticises Putrajaya’s scheme

在议会辩论中，伊斯兰党议员艾哈迈德·塔米兹·苏莱曼敦促马来西亚政府在管理罗兴亚难民问题上采取平衡的方针，强调需要制定人道公正的移民政策，同时保障国家安全。

他主张采取综合措施，例如建立数字身份识别系统来区分难民和其他移民，并呼吁东盟解决缅甸流离失所的根源问题。

此外，塔米齐还对日益增长的仇外情绪和针对难民的仇恨言论表示担忧，敦促政府采取有效行动打击此类言论，同时坚持人道主义和法律原则。

吉隆坡，10月5日讯——伊斯兰党议员艾哈迈德·塔米兹·苏莱曼今天呼吁政府在管理罗兴亚难民问题上取得平衡，称严格的移民政策也必须人道。

“我们必须保护国家安全，控制边境，并维持强大的登记制度，但这样做，我们不能丧失人性和正义感，”锡克议员艾哈迈德·塔米兹·苏莱曼在议会就难民管理问题进行辩论时说道。

艾哈迈德·塔米兹将邻国缅甸的冲突视为导致民众流离失所到马来西亚的主要原因，敦促东盟加大外交压力，寻求政治解决。

“只要导致人们背井离乡的根本原因没有得到解决，难民潮就不会停止，”他说道，并呼吁停止对平民的暴力行为，尤其是在若开邦，确保人道主义援助畅通无阻地送达，并开展包容各方的政治对话。

为了解决操作问题，艾哈迈德·塔米兹支持政府制定的标准化数字身份识别系统计划，该系统配备生物识别跟踪、背景安全检查、透明的身份确定和机构间审计检查。

他表示，这样的系统能够正确区分真正的难民与经济移民、无证移民和人口贩运的受害者。

“难民不一定是非法移民，人口贩运的受害者也不应被视为罪犯，”他说道，并警告社交媒体上仇恨言论和仇外情绪日益高涨，同时强调人权保护并不赋予非公民免受当地法律约束的豁免权。

艾哈迈德·塔米兹还表示反对政府任何可能邀请缅甸军政府领导人进行外交会谈的举动，并援引了国际刑事法院（ICC）针对该军政府首脑的逮捕令申请。

他说：“邀请军政府首脑将违反我们的原则，并对马来西亚的国际外交地位造成严重损害。”

仇外心理和仇恨言论必须停止。

联合国难民署（UNHCR）表示，截至2025年12月，马来西亚登记在册的难民和寻求庇护者人数为214,079人，此外，2025年还有超过90,000人在执法行动中被拘留。

艾哈迈德·塔米兹表示，近几个月来，马来西亚的罗兴亚社区面临着严重的仇外袭击，他将此归咎于政府未能有效管理难民问题和打击仇恨宣传。

“不要让仇恨言论和仇外心理主导社会。同时，我也想非常强调难民管理问题，特别是关于极端仇恨、仇恨言论和仇外心理的问题，这些问题越来越容易被某些势力利用，尤其是在社交媒体上，”他说道。

“但是，我要强调的是，坚持人道主义原则并不意味着要为每个难民的每一个行为辩护，”他补充道。

“如果难民犯罪、违法、扰乱公共秩序、参与暴力活动、剥削他人或犯下任何罪行，他们必须接受马来西亚法律的制裁。”

审计长报告称，马来西亚的法定债务为1.295万亿令吉，占GDP的63.9%，仍在法定限额之内。

咖喱鸡、傍晚兜风和一只白猫：宋瑞源的家人缅怀这位砂拉越政治家背后的男人

缅甸方面表示，大部分从马来西亚返回的移民是乘飞机而非轮船返回家园，联合国批评布城（缅甸首都）的遣返计划。