The government is pressing ahead with the controversial “refugee swap” plan, which will see Malaysia taking 800 asylum-seekers in return for Australia accepting 4,000 refugees from Malaysia over a four-year period.
The Home Ministry yesterday reasoned this was because it would solve the refugee problems of both nations.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop confirmed that Malaysia would still go ahead with the plan.
“Yes, we are still interested in the deal,” he told The Malay Mail when met in Parliament.
Describing the deal as a “win win” situation for both countries, he said the key aim was to prevent human trafficking.
“With the concept that we are trying to implement, where eventually those who want to be swapped are sent elsewhere, that will more or less deter refugees from returning,” Abu Seman explained.
“As of now, Australia is aborting their action, if I’m not mistaken. They are going to table a law in regards
of rectifying the weakness.”
Yesterday, it was reported the Australian Parliament will vote tomorrow on legislation to bypass their High Court ban on sending asylum-seekers to Malaysia, with the fate of the Bill in the lower house likely to fall on West Australian National MP Tony Crook.
“So, at the moment, we are still looking into the matter because we are also concerned about our security,”
Abu Seman added.
Signed between both countries on July 25, the swap deal was for the exchange of 4,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia for 800 in Australia over a period of four years.
The deal was aimed at checking human trafficking and other cross-border criminal activities in the long run.
Lawyers had argued that the deportations would be illegal because Malaysia does not meet the human rights standards stipulated in Australian law, as it is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.
The government of Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister, signed the Malaysian deal to deter human trafficking, and to fight perceptions that her government was soft on asylum seekers.
Gillard tells Najib Australia committed
However, the deal came under increasing criticism from international human rights groups after it was revealed that unaccompanied children who arrived by boat would not be exempt from transfer.
In August, the Australian High Court blocked their Federal Government's plan to send asylum-seekers to Malaysia as part of the refugeeswap deal, citing the proposal as "invalid".
But last week, it was reported that Gillard had called Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to reassure him that Australia remained committed to the refugee swap.
The same report by an Autralian media stated that Gillard's telephone call to Najib appeared to be part of an effort to pacify Malaysians, following a debate in Australia that drew into question Malaysia's suitability as a processing venue and its treatment of asylum-seekers.
The main purpose of the phone call was reportedly to update Najib on the implications of the court ruling and restate the government's commitment to the arrangement.
