NST Online: Topnews

Posted: 06 Nov 2011 09:30 AM PST

Nicol David celebrating with the winner's trophy after defeating England's Jenny Duncalf at the Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, yesterday. This is Nicol's sixth World Open title. — AFP picture

KUALA LUMPUR: From Taipei to Rotterdam, Malaysia ruled the world in racquet sports yesterday.

In squash, Nicol David won the World Open crown for a record-breaking sixth time when she outclassed England's Jenny Duncalf 11-2, 11-5, 11-0 in the women's final in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Nicol said: "Winning a world title is huge in Malaysia. We are always gunning to have more people in sports and I'm just glad I could pay back all Malaysia has done to get me this far." In badminton, Zulfadli Zulkifli sprang a surprise by upstaging favourite Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the boys' singles final of the World Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan.

Nelson Heg and Teo Ee Yi made it a double joy for Malaysia when they bagged the boys' doubles title by beating Taiwan's Huang Poh Jui and Lin Chia Yu.

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Move to register refugees

Posted: 06 Nov 2011 09:27 AM PST

2011/11/07
By Farrah Naz Karim
farrah@nst.com.my

Joint effort to improve protection of UNHCR card holders

PUTRAJAYA: An exercise to register al l asylum seekers and refugees holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees documents is slated to begin in January.

This followed an agreement between UNHCR and the government on the registration, which would be carried out progressively in cities where refugees were located, the agency said.

It said it was also looking towards getting Malaysia to commit to strengthening refugee protection.

The country could do this by creating opportunities for legal employment and improving access to education and health services for the group, the agency said.

It hoped the registration would prevent prosecution of the group for immigration offences and deportation as well as secure their release, if arrested.

It said the exercise would involve its officials and those from the Home and Foreign Affairs ministries, Immigration Department and National Security Council.

UNHCR representative Alan Vernon said yesterday: "This agreement is the result of a series of meetings between UNHCR and the government, in which the issue of registration of UNHCR document holders, the possibility of legal work for refugees and other issues were discussed.

"UNHCR regards this as a significant opportunity to improve the situation of refugees as their identities can be easily verified by law enforcement officers." Describing the registration as a win-win effort, Vernon said this move would also prevent the problem of fake UNHCR identification cards or refugee cards.

Once they were registered, the data of the group would be included in the biometric system, where fingerprints could determine genuine card holders, he said.

The UN body said there were about 95,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with it in Malaysia.

These people, whom the agency said were fleeing persecution and conflict, include those from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Vernon said the government had an agreement with the agency to ensure the confidentiality of the information.

"While Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, UNHCR appreciates the cooperation we enjoy with the government and looks forward to continuing discussions on strengthening refugee protection in Malaysia." There are no legislative or administrative provisions for dealing with refugees in the country.

Refugees are not allowed full employment, but the government makes allowances for them to do odd jobs.

The agency said it had, since 1975, conducted all activities related to the reception, registration, documentation and status determination of asylum-seekers and refugees in Malaysia.

Home Ministry and Wisma Putra senior officials said they could not comment on the issue.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Ahad, 6 November 2011

NST Online: Topnews

NST Online: Topnews

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