Tenaganita executive director Glorene Das and spokesmen for Beyond Borders and the Alliance for Chin Refugees said Rodzi appeared to be ignorant of the difference between undocumented migrants and asylum seekers.
UNHCR processes and issues cards to refugees who cannot prove they are asylum seekers.
Glorene said asylum seekers were not the same as undocumented migrants.
She also said she believed most members of the public knew that UNHCR’s role in Malaysia extended beyond the issuing of cards.
“So the proposal to close the UNHCR office is very worrying,” she told FMT.
“There are so many good practices out there on joint work between UNHCR and host governments that we need to study and apply accordingly.
“We do need the expertise and support of the UNHCR to continue managing the community of refugees in our midst together with all other stakeholders.”
She said that Malaysia, as a member of the UN and the Human Rights Council, should respect the UNHCR’s mandate of providing international protection to refugees.
On Tuesday, Rodzi said shutting down the UNHCR office in Malaysia would allow Putrajaya to improve its management of refugees without interference from external influences.
He also said undocumented migrants were attracted to Malaysia because they could receive protection from the UN agency.
He accused UNHCR of issuing refugee cards without checking with Malaysian authorities in advance, saying this was disrespectful.
Beyond Borders and the Alliance of Chin Refugees released a joint statement that said: “Firstly, undocumented migrants do not come under the UNHCR’s purview.
“Secondly, it has always been the ‘push factor’ and not the ‘pull factor’ that forces refugees to flee to Malaysia or any other country.”
Noting Rodzi’s acknowledgement that Malaysia did not yet have a mechanism to manage refugees, the two groups asked whether this meant he was merely trying to flex his muscles.
“Malaysia not only champions the Palestinian cause globally but also sits on the UN Human Rights Council,” they said.
“We hope the relevant authorities would stop making alarming statements and instead reach a consensus that ensures refugee rights are protected in Malaysia.”