Award-winning activist Heidy Quah said her primary mission as a new DAP recruit was to advise the party’s MPs on matters concerning refugees in Malaysia.

Quah, who received the prestigious Young Leaders Award from Queen Elizabeth II last year, said she hoped to make a change in policies concerning the treatment of refugees in the country.

“In DAP, I hope to be able to work alongside DAP parliamentarians and share with them my experience working on the ground and see efforts made to improve the situation (of refugees in Malaysia).

“This is the first step and it’s a baby step, but this is what I’ve chosen to do,” said Quah, 24, who is best known for her work with Refuge for the Refugees (RFTR), a group she co-founded when she was 18.

RFTR primarily works with Myanmarese refugees, who make up the majority of asylum seekers in Malaysia.

Quah said she chose to join DAP because of the party’s commitments to human rights, equality and socio-economic justice.

She said refugees had problems accessing basic needs such as education, healthcare and jobs.

A priority, she said, was for the government to formulate policies to allow refugees to access government schools.

“It would be healthy for our privileged kids to mix with refugee kids… just for them to gain a better understanding as to what’s happening outside of Malaysia.

“I believe that when we mix the privileged and underprivileged communities, there is so much they can learn from each other,” she said during a ceremony to welcome her entry into DAP today.

More than 40,000 refugee children in Malaysia

Quah estimated that there are currently more than 40,000 refugee children in Malaysia with no access to proper education.

“They’re either waiting to be settled or to be sent back to home countries. This process can often take five to 10 years and they go through this period without education,” she said.

Wanita DAP vice-chairperson Hannah Yeoh she would be arranging a briefing for lawmakers soon to help kickstart the necessary legislation to help refugees.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang added that Quah was an inspiration for all Malaysians to use their talents to help Malaysia.

“I’m sure all of us love this country, all of us have something to give this country, and I think May 9 is the beginning where we all can play a role to remake Malaysia,” Lim said.

Quah’s journey into activism began in 2012 when she and her friend Andrea Prisha were volunteers at a school for refugee children.

The pair decided to register RFTR when they were volunteering at a Myanmar refugee school that ran out of funds.

RFTR’s goals are to raise awareness about refugees and provide aid to refugee schools. The group also runs 10 schools for refugee children in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.