KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The Immigration Department urged the public today not to compare the depot where it is housing Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants to refugee camps, which it admitted may be more comfortable than its facility.

The department, however, insisted that it is doing the best it could for the immigrants, despite the many complaints it has received claiming the government has not been protecting and managing the affected group well.

“The Immigration Department already shifted out some of the illegal immigrants to our depot in other states such as in Penang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, etc. So we still can accommodate Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants and still manage to facilitate and treat them to the best that we can do.”

“Other parties cannot compare our depot with the ‘refugees camp’ that perhaps more convenient and comfortable to all,” said Immigration director-general Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim.

Mustafa also said that because these refugees are housed in the department’s depots, they must adhere to its procedures, rules and regulations.

On this, he said there can be no compromise.

The department also insisted that it is “definitely serious” in assisting Putrajaya in managing the situation, and claimed that the ministry is giving the matter priority and had given clear directives to the department.

The department also thanked others who have assisted them in the issue, including the Health Ministry, the police, and civil societies.

“The Immigration realised that many people are very interested to assist. And they are welcome,” said Mustafa.

“But we also have to be very careful to some group of people who try to manipulate the issue that will jeopardise our Government, Home Ministry and the credibility of the Immigration in handling this matter.”

Last week, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to provide humanitarian assistance to the 7,000 migrants still adrift at sea, including offering temporary shelter, provided that the international community takes steps to repatriate them within a year.

Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman in making the announcement said the two countries are prepared to carry out “their duties” if they are given the necessary support, particularly financial assistance.

Nearly 3,000 migrants left adrift in boats in Southeast Asia’s seas have swum to shore or been rescued off Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand over the past week after a Thai crackdown prompted human traffickers to abandon their human cargo.