Legal Protection FAQ

You can report using the following channels:

• Arrest and Detention Report form
• The Arrest and Detention Hotline (This hotline only takes English and Malay phone calls)

Please do not report the arrest of the same individual(s) through multiple channels, as this can slow down UNHCR’s response. When filing an arrest and detention report, please include:

• Your name, UNHCR file number, and contact details
• The arrested individual's name, age, gender, and UNHCR file number (if registered)
• When available: the detainee's number, detention location, date of arrest, reason for arrest, arresting authority (whether immigration, police, or others), court date, nature of the charge, and court location (if the individual is being charged)

UNHCR takes immediate action when we receive a report of an arrest or detention, including advocating with the authorities against the arrest or detention of asylum-seekers and refugees. While UNHCR prioritises the release of vulnerable individuals, the decision to release any detainee rests entirely with Malaysian authorities.

Please inform UNHCR immediately using the Arrest and Detention Report form or by calling the Arrest and Detention Hotline.

Provide as much information as possible, such as the name and UNHCR file number of the individual(s), the expected date of deportation, the current place of detention, the current body number, whether flight tickets have been purchased, and whether the individual has agreed to leave the country.