He said this after a UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) official had reportedly pledged to help, provided the government promises not to detain the refugees.
Hamzah had recently asked UNHCR to provide details on 178,175 refugees in the country in order to vaccinate them. The refugees are part of the 2.5 million foreigners registered in the country.
“If they are giving us conditions, then they are not being sincere,” he told reporters in Perai after following a spot check by the immigration department at a low-cost flat complex here today.
Hamzah said for far too long, refugees holding UNHCR cards had been acting with impunity, prompting the government to come up with a policy to stop their “arrogant” behaviour.
Such behaviour by the refugees, including other undocumented people, had caused unease and even anger among locals, he said, citing an example of colonies of migrants living in low-rise flats in Seberang Jaya, a township in Perai.
Hamzah said locals had become fearful of the foreigners there, as they were alleged to “control” the flats like their personal fiefdom.
He added that locals were also concerned about the living conditions and health issues with up to 20 people cramming into a tiny unit.
He said the government was therefore, coming out with policies that would allow locals to “live peacefully” and force the migrants to abide by the laws of the land.
“I am not looking for fault, but merely looking for a resolution on this issue now before it worsens. I ask all citizens to be patient, save their comments, we don’t want people to say we are inhumane.
“How many people have gone to villages in Rakhine state (in Myanmar)? I have personally gone there, and I understand their problem. I am sympathetic, but not to the extent of those (human rights groups) who are championing them (the refugees).
“I am not inhumane towards them but am merely trying to put Malaysian interests first.
“Our upcoming policies will ensure foreigners follow the law and they don’t go around saying, ‘I have a UNHCR card, you can’t do anything’. This kind of statement shows their arrogance.
“Is there any enforcement by UNHCR on refugee cardholders? Absolutely no.”
Earlier, Hamzah followed immigration teams on spot checks at two flat complexes — Jalan Terubok and Taman Sutera — in Seberang Jaya on a documentation check of foreigners living there.