Malaysia Begins Myanmar Repatriation Despite UN Safety Concerns
Malaysia has started voluntarily repatriating Myanmar nationals, despite UNHCR and rights groups warning about security risks in conflict-hit Myanmar.
Malaysia has begun repatriating Myanmar nationals under a voluntary programme, despite warnings from the UN refugee agency and rights groups that parts of Myanmar remain unsafe because of ongoing conflict and political instability.
The first batch of 1,476 people is part of a wider plan to return 5,000 Myanmar nationals from Malaysia in stages. Malaysian authorities said those in the initial group had agreed to return and that the process would be conducted using two Myanmar navy ships and a hospital vessel.
The move comes as Malaysia faces a long-running challenge involving refugees and undocumented migrants. The country’s Home Ministry said more than 10,000 Myanmar nationals were being held at immigration detention centres as of August 15.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the repatriation plan as part of a diplomatic effort, arguing that Malaysia cannot host refugees indefinitely and that Myanmar should take responsibility for its citizens.
However, UNHCR and rights organisations have raised concerns about the safety of people returning to a country still facing armed conflict. Malaysia hosts around 215,600 UNHCR-registered refugees and asylum seekers, including a large Rohingya population.
Myanmar has previously received nationals repatriated from Malaysia in 2021 and 2022. Officials in Myanmar said the latest programme concerns its citizens and is not intended to repatriate Rohingya people.
