On the eve of Australia potentially sending the first batch of refugees from Nauru to Cambodia, a veteran opposition MP has raised concerns the move could create religious tensions.
There's speculation a charter flight will leave the Pacific island nation on Monday with up to 10 refugees but it's unclear if any have actually signed up to go to Cambodia, following protests on the island last Friday.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has declined to confirm the arrangements but said the first group of volunteers would depart in the near future.
Opposition MP Son Chhay fears the resettlement deal could impact on Cambodia's social cohesion.
Relations between Buddhists, who make up 95 per cent of the 15.7 million population, and the 500,000 Muslims are peaceful, unlike in Myanmar (Burma) where there's ongoing clashes between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.
"We're very concerned," he told AAP.
"It could get to that point."
He said if refugees coming from Middle Eastern countries had more extremist Islamic views it could potentially "stir up the Muslims who have been living peacefully alongside the Buddhists in this country".
Mr Chhay came to Adelaide as a refugee in 1980 following the Pol Pot genocide before returning home in 1991 to run for parliament.
He urged Australia to treat people seeking its protection as human beings and not problems to dump in developing countries.
"Shame on the Liberal Party for playing this disgusting game," he said.
The Abbott government argues Cambodia is a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention and that refugee resettlement is not an economic migration program.
There was a real threat that money Australia gives to support the refugees could be siphoned off by corrupt officials, Mr Chhay said.
He cited an example of corruption - foreigners provided assistance to feed tigers at the open range zoo at Phnom Tamao.
"The tigers (are supposed to get) three chickens a day but only one chicken was given to the tigers for so long, they became skinny and I think one or two of them died," he said.
The $40 million resettlement agreement stipulates refugees will only be sent on a voluntary basis, with the number of refugees to be determined by Cambodia.
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