Minister Hamzah Zainudin said only those registered with TRIS, who would be given a special ID card called (MyRC), would be considered for access to government facilities, Bernama reported.

This, he said, would include access to healthcare, education, job opportunities and training in several sectors including construction and manufacturing.

“Even though Malaysia has a firm stance on not recognising refugees, yet, on humanitarian grounds, the government intends to manage the community on a case by case basis,” he said after visiting the TRIS registration centre in Sungai Buloh this evening.

The system was approved by the government in July, drawing criticisms from two NGOs who described the system as being “invasive and dehumanising” as well as open to abuse.

They said TRIS would further control the refugees’ already restricted freedom of movement which, in turn, would hamper their livelihoods.

On July 30, UNHCR said that Putrajaya had not said anything about TRIS during recent meetings with it, despite the UN agency providing recommendations to support its implementation back in 2017, and offered its help.