Malaysia says will not repatriate Myanmar refugees if lives are at risk

Malaysia has ruled out repatriating 5,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar if authorities determine their lives would be at risk, according to a government spokesman on Wednesday (Aug 5). Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had previously announced that Myanmar had agreed to accept the return of the persecuted Rohingya minority, sparking concerns from rights groups.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that Malaysia, as a responsible country, would not send the refugees back if they faced persecution or threat to their lives. The junta government in Myanmar is prepared to receive the refugees, but the criteria for repatriation will be thoroughly examined. Malaysia, which hosts over 215,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 126,000 Rohingya, is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not formally recognize refugee status.