LARUT: The government will review the issuance of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards to Rohingya refugees in the country, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (pic).

       The Home Minister said the study had to be done following the escape of hundreds of Rohingya detainees from the Sungai Bakap Immigration Detention Depot near Bandar Baharu on Wednesday (April 20).

       ALSO READ: Ten dead after riot in immigration detention centre causes massive prison break

       “We cannot provide space for them to easily enter the country without documents and immediately get UNHCR cards. It’s something that’s not right... that’s why we take a firm stance, being a card holder doesn’t mean they can live in our country and enter as they like,” he said.

       He spoke to reporters after handing out donations to 1,000 underprivileged people from the Larut parliamentary constituency at Dewan Astaka Batu Kurau here Saturday (April 23).

       ALSO READ: Depot riot: 80 Rohingya detainees still at large

       In the 4.30am incident on Wednesday, 528 Rohingya detainees escaped from the depot following a riot.

       During the escape, six detainees, including two children, were killed on the southbound side of the North-South Expressway while trying to cross the highway near Jawi. - Bernama