KUALA LUMPUR: A heated exchange erupted between government and opposition members of parliament over the Rohingya refugee issue during the 2027 Budget debate in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The argument broke out while Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) was debating the budget, when RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) interjected and claimed that Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (PN-Marang) and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had previously welcomed Rohingya refugees into Malaysia.
"Bachok, relax. Bachok, listen. If you dare, listen," Rayer told Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok), who tried to interject during the exchange.
"It was not the Tambun MP (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) who invited refugees from Myanmar to come here. It was Marang and Pekan (Najib)," Rayer said.
Fadhli hit back by citing an April 26, 2020 news report in which Anwar had defended humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees.
"I expected Jelutong to raise this. I brought an excerpt dated April 26, 2020.
"Who said this? Anwar. Which Anwar? The Tambun MP," he said.
Rayer maintained that providing humanitarian assistance to refugees was different from encouraging their arrival, arguing that Malaysia could uphold humanitarian principles while pursuing efforts to repatriate them.
Resuming his debate, Fadhli called on the government to take tougher action against refugees who broke the law.
He also proposed establishing controlled refugee settlements, similar to those previously used on Pulau Bidong, to better manage the refugee population.
"If we cannot accommodate 200,000 people, we can study capacities of 10,000 or 20,000," he said, calling for a feasibility and cost study.
Fadhli said Malaysians were increasingly concerned about the continued arrival of refugees, although he acknowledged the humanitarian considerations involved.
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