Refugees could potentially contribute over RM3 billion each year to the nation’s GDP by 2024 if they were given the right to work in Malaysia.

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) researcher Wan Ya Shin, who was one of the authors of the report, "The Economic Impact of Granting Refugees in Malaysia the Right to Work", also said this number could rise to RM6.5 billion per year by 2040 if the refugees were also granted access to education on par with locals.