The Star
by ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD
“The centre is a former resort,” the official said.
“The refugees will be housed there for up to 45 days where they will then be screened by the UNHCR to determine their status,” he added.
The selection of the former resort as the centre was agreed by both governments.
In Melbourne, Australia, the group that was due to be sent to Malaysia were said to be on hunger strike.
A refugees advocate movement said the group arrived on Christmas Island on Thursday.
The group includes 18 minors or people claiming to be minors. Up to 14 of them are unaccompanied.
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul claimed that the movement received a distress call from one of the asylum seekers on Friday.
“The short call said: We are in a bad way; we need help. We are starting a hunger strike',” Rintoul was quoted by the Australian Associated Press as saying.
He called on the Australian Government to give the group access to lawyers.
“The asylum seekers have committed no crime but are effectively being held incommunicado,” Rintoul said.
by ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD
PUTRAJAYA:
The first batch of asylum seekers under the refugee swap agreement
between Malaysia and Australia is expected to arrive here early next
week.
Although no exact date has been announced, officials at the Home Ministry are said to be making preparations to receive them.
However, it could not be confirmed how many refugees would be in the first batch.
A ministry official said that upon arrival, the refugees would be temporarily placed at a centre about 100km from Kuala Lumpur.
Although no exact date has been announced, officials at the Home Ministry are said to be making preparations to receive them.
However, it could not be confirmed how many refugees would be in the first batch.
A ministry official said that upon arrival, the refugees would be temporarily placed at a centre about 100km from Kuala Lumpur.
“The centre is a former resort,” the official said.
“The refugees will be housed there for up to 45 days where they will then be screened by the UNHCR to determine their status,” he added.
The selection of the former resort as the centre was agreed by both governments.
In Melbourne, Australia, the group that was due to be sent to Malaysia were said to be on hunger strike.
A refugees advocate movement said the group arrived on Christmas Island on Thursday.
The group includes 18 minors or people claiming to be minors. Up to 14 of them are unaccompanied.
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul claimed that the movement received a distress call from one of the asylum seekers on Friday.
“The short call said: We are in a bad way; we need help. We are starting a hunger strike',” Rintoul was quoted by the Australian Associated Press as saying.
He called on the Australian Government to give the group access to lawyers.
“The asylum seekers have committed no crime but are effectively being held incommunicado,” Rintoul said.
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