Malaysia Halts UNHCR Refugee Registration, Foreign Minister Questions Agency's Right to Operate

Malaysia's cabinet directed UNHCR to halt refugee registration, Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman confirmed on July 22. Days later, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan called for reviewing UNHCR's presence, citing loose documentation practices. Malaysia is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention. Roughly 126,000 registered Rohingya depend on UNHCR documentation for protection. UNHCR has not publicly responded.