A deputy home minister expressed hope that the Foreign Affairs Ministry will review the government’s refugee policy, while several interest groups offered input on reducing the impact of the global food crisis.

Chor’s personal wish

Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung, answering a question on the number of refugees in the country, said he personally believes that the Foreign Affairs Ministry should examine the country’s decision not to ratify the United Nations convention on refugees.

mca new cabinet member 180308 chor chee heung “The country is not a signatory to the convention although I believe Wisma Putra and the National Security Committee should give the matter serious thought,” he said.

He however said it would be difficult for the government to accord refugees ‘political asylum’ status, as this could lead to manipulation.

“We are worried that they would use this as a reason to flock here for economic gains. Furthermore, the government must think of ways to providing them with employment, housing and security,” he said.

Civil rights and refugee rights groups have long slammed the government’s decision not to ratify the convention. Refugees from conflict-ridden countries often run into problems with the authorities due to their ‘illegal’ status.

Memo on food crisis

A memorandum by the Joint Action Forum on Food Crisis (JAFFC) was handed over to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz at the Parliament lobby today.

JAFFC representative N Rajenthiran said the document contains proposals by several interest groups on how the government can help reduce the impact of the global food crisis.

rice paddy padi beras sacks “The government must have a consultation process with the public especially farmers, fishermen, and indigenous groups affected by the food crisis, to ensure that their voices are heard and taken into account,” read the memorandum.

It noted that the increase in oil price has resulted in a ‘devastating domino effect’, with food supplies becoming more expensive and difficult to access.

JAFFC intends to become a platform to “uphold and advocate the fundamental rights of the grassroots”.

Nazri said the government would heed the concerns raised by the group. Pakatan Rakyat MPs were also present.

Student-loan defaulters taken to court

Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin told the Dewan Rakyat that 18,532 student-loan defaulters have been taken to court.

Malays top the group at 83 percent, followed by Chinese at 7.7 percent, Indians at 5.35 percent and others at 3.5 percent.

“Taking defaulters to court is action of last resort, so these cases comprise ‘hardcore’ defaulters,” he explained.