Malaysia may reconsider allowing the United Nations refugee agency to operate in the country unless it agrees to stricter screening and controls in issuing refugee documents, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Tuesday.

His remarks came a day after Malaysian authorities detained more than 100 Rohingya asylum seekers who had gathered outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur seeking assistance after being evicted from their homes in Penang.

Mohamad said the government wants the refugee screening process to be conducted jointly by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Malaysian authorities to ensure tighter verification before documentation is issued.

“We want cooperation and strict screening. If they do not want to cooperate, in my opinion, it is time for us to reconsider the presence of UNHCR in the country so that we do not continue to be burdened,” he was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama.

The minister also alleged that the UNHCR’s presence was contributing to Malaysia becoming an increasingly attractive destination for refugees, including Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

The UNHCR said it was working with Malaysian authorities to protect the detained Rohingya and verify their documentation. The agency said those efforts had helped facilitate their transfer to alternative accommodation.

Malaysian police said the detained Rohingya possessed valid UNHCR documentation and would be temporarily housed at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters pending further action by the refugee agency.