Commenting on Human Resources Minister M Kula Segaran’s disclosure on Monday that Putrajaya had yet to decide on the question, Tenaganita programme officer Elise Arya Chen said the government should have long ago recognised the benefits of allowing refugees to earn their living legally.

“We should be noting the countless studies showing that our country will immensely benefit from assisting and recognising refugees,” she told FMT.

“Refugees can fill up labour shortages to lessen our country’s dependence on migrant labour. Allowing them to work will boost our economy and fulfil our humanitarian obligations.”

According to the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, refugees can contribute more than RM3 billion to the national gross domestic product (GDP) by 2024 if they can afford to spend as much as do the poorest 40% of Malaysians.

The think tank, in a research paper published in April, also said the government could benefit from an estimated RM50 million in tax returns by 2024 by giving refugees the right to work.

Granting refugees the same access to education as locals, it added, could increase their contribution to the GDP to more than RM6.5 billion a year and tax contributions to above RM250 million by 2040.

Chen said many refugees working illegally in menial jobs were not being paid their proper dues.

She denounced internet users who have called for refugees to be sent out of the country if they do not have their papers in order, calling them “xenophobic, racist and morally ignorant individuals who seem to take for granted all the human rights, peace and privileges we enjoy”.

In the manifesto it used in last year’s general election campaign, Pakatan Harapan promised to ratify the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention and grant refugees the legal right to work.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are more than 170,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia. Of these, 53.6% are Rohingya.

Vinodh Pillai

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