Chapter 2 - Report of the Complaints, Monitoring and Inquiries Group Among the cases quoted by MTUC was that of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) which had terminated the President, Vice-President and 41 members of the railway union and suspended another 27 members for participating in pickets. Another case was that of Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS) which had terminated the President of the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM) for issuing a media statement. NUFAM’s Secretary General and five union members have also been terminated for union activities. (e) Refugees and Asylum Seekers i. Refugees and UNHCR A total of 38 complaints relating to refugees were received mainly from refugees from Myanmar, Pakistan, Syria and Sri Lanka. The Commission met with representatives from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on 5 May to further discuss the areas of concern such as delays in UNHCR registration, issuance of UNHCR cards, resettlement programmes, financial constraints among refugees, protection provided by UNHCR and arrests at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (KLGH). Being the only organization responsible for the registration of refugees, UNHCR is unable to speed up the registration process because of the increasing number of refugees, compounded by its lack of capacity and resources. Accordingly, the UNHCR would like to propose that the Malaysian Government consider registering this vulnerable group of people under its own State machinery. On the resettlement applications, according to the UNHCR, all resettlement applications have to be assessed and resettlement would be based on criteria of the host country. Due to the lack of resources, UNHCR is only able to provide short-term assistance. For medical cases, registered refugees are entitled to 50% discount at Government hospitals (with a letter of guarantee from the UNHCR). Those admitted to the hospital and needing frequent follow-ups are provided with short-term assistance (RM300RM400 for the whole family). The UNHCR Medical Team conducts visits to Immigration Detention Centres (IDC) on a regular basis. The International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGOs also send their teams to prescribe medicine or recommend further treatment. UNHCR does not provide any shelter due to lack of resources. However, through cooperation with NGOs, unaccompanied minors (UAMs) and sexual and gender victims will be sent to shelters run by trusted civil society and religious communities. There are issues of Muslim Rohingya refugees living in Christian shelters and UNHCR proposed that the Commission approach Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI) to assist in providing shelter for Muslim refugees. Currently, Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) is providing shelter for UAMs and Suka Society provides counselling services to the children. Refugees released from Immigration Detention Centres will temporarily reside in the shelters managed by NGOs. UNHCR stopped releasing young girls to their male relatives before further investigation, in order to avoid any risk of releasing them to sex or begging syndicates. If detention occurs, the family members are allowed to approach UNHCR and request their release. During visits to IDC, UNHCR will register 48

اختر الفقرة المستهدفة3