A LITERATURE REVIEW OF REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA AND THE LEGISLATIONS GOVERNING THE REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA.

Abstract

The arrival of refugees and asylum seekers to Malaysia from several countries to get protection from persecution had urged Malaysia to provide a proper protection to these people as our government had decided to let the refugees stay in Malaysia on humanitarian basis. This study focuses on the history of refugees and asylum seekers arrival to Malaysia and the development of legislation that governs them. The study uses qualitative method, where it is done through reading materials from library such as books, journals, articles and newspapers.  It mainly were designed based on historical type of qualitative research design. The purpose of this study is to find out problems of refugees in Malaysia and the need to design a proper and solid legislation for them so that they, while staying in Malaysia are humanely treated and not violated in any way, shape or form. This paper provides an extensive literature review on refugees and asylum seekers’ all around the world. The findings indicate that there is a lot of issues and problems regarding refugees which don’t only affects them individually but also indirectly affects Malaysian economy and increases domestic violence in Malaysia. The significant role or the involvement of UNHCR agencies and the reports from their experts were taken into account for a more thorough analysis on refugee status and problems in Malaysia. Finally, the study concludes with a discussion on the need to first identify the legal status of refugees in Malaysia and the urgency to design a solid legal framework to the refugees located in Malaysia before they are either integrated, repatriated or resettled to the third country as stated in the long term solution for refugees.