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A controversial refugee swap deal between Australia and Malaysia may receive the go-ahead this week when the Australian High Court decides whether the agreement is lawful, following a a challenge brought by asylum seekers.
A controversial refugee swap deal between Australia and Malaysia may receive the go-ahead this week when the Australian High Court decides whether the agreement is lawful, following a a challenge brought by asylum seekers.
The Asia Foundation’s Malaysia country representative, Anthea Mulakala, explains in an editorial the furor surrounding the deal in which Australia will send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in return for 4,000 U.N.-registered refugees from Malaysia. Australia is footing the $300 million cost of the programme over four years.
One of the biggest criticisms is how the deal will create a two-tiered system in Malaysia, which is not signatory to the 1967 Refugee Convention.
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