The government is considering imposing movement restrictions on Rohingya refugees in Malaysia as it expands a nationwide registration exercise to include United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders outside immigration detention facilities.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government has been studying the proposed restrictions, however, he did not elaborate on what this would look like or when they might be implemented.

"The government is examining the feasibility of imposing movement restrictions on these groups, taking into account national security, sovereignty and human rights considerations," he said in a written parliamentary reply to Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai).