Putrajaya insists asylum swap best way to tackle human trafficking

The Gillard administrations popularity has sunk as a result of the hugely controversial deal. Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 The Najib administration is adamant that the refugee swap deal that was deemed illegal by Australias High Court today was the best solution to tackle human trafficking in both countries.

A statement from the Home Ministry said that we continue to believe that the agreement between our governments is the best way to tackle the menace of people traffickers in a way that protects the interests of Australia, Malaysia and, above all, the immigrants involved.

We are determined to tackle this trade in human misery. In light of todays ruling we will be working closely with the Australian government to determine the best course of action, it added.

The hugely controversial arrangement, popularly referred to as the Malaysia Solution in Australia, was made without power and is invalid Chief Justice Robert French ruled today.

The court barred asylum seekers held by Australia from being sent to Malaysia, a ruling that will likely derail the swap deal intending to send 800 boat people to Malaysia in exchange for 4,000 already-processed refugees to Australia.

The move was put on hold earlier this month after Melbourne lawyer David Manne won a High Court injunction to prevent deportations pending a decision on the deal.

With Canberra agreeing to pick up the RM1 billion bill for the swap, the Gillard administrations popularity has sunk under pressure from opposition leaders and human rights activists in both Pacific nations.

The deal was set to go ahead despite concerns that a biometric system used in Malaysia to register migrants is riddled with problems and reports of scalps taking advantage of an ongoing amnesty programme for illegal immigrants have raised further questions over its ability to deal with incoming asylum-seekers.