Myanmar setuju bawa pulang 5,000 pelariannya guna kapal, kata Tok Mat

Menteri Luar Negeri Mohamad Hasan revealed that Myanmar has agreed to repatriate 5,000 of its citizens from Malaysia using ships. This information was communicated to him during a meeting with his counterpart from Myanmar. However, he did not disclose who would bear the cost of repatriation, as Wisma Putra, a facilitator of the process, is the only entity involved.

He emphasized the importance of speed in the repatriation process, given that the 5,000 Myanmar refugees are already identified. The priority, however, is their safety. He stressed that the focus should be on ensuring their safety when they are sent back, and questioning the consequences they might face if returned. Malaysia had earlier confirmed Myanmar's willingness to accept back 5,000 of its citizens following diplomatic consultations and good relations between the two nations.

When asked about Asean's role in controlling and managing the refugee issue, Mohamad, known as Tok Mat, noted that although it falls under the internal affairs of another country, it needs to be dealt with collectively. He reiterated that Asean leaders have previously agreed on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (5PC) as a framework to address issues in Myanmar.

Before sending the refugees back to Myanmar, he stressed that the country must ensure adherence to the 5PC, which includes ending violence, starting dialogues among all parties involved, and appointing a special Asean representative to facilitate the dialogue process. The 5PC also outlines Asean's role in providing humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of Myanmar and allowing an Asean special envoy to visit Myanmar and meet all relevant parties.

Mohamad clarified that this issue is not limited to Rohingyas, but rather encompasses all ethnic refugees from Myanmar. He emphasized that the repatriation issue is a shared concern for Malaysia, not just Rohingya, as there are other ethnic groups like Chin and others. Asean views this refugee issue collectively, which is why Asean centrality on the Myanmar issue is a shared concern, he emphasized while concluding that Asean wants the 5PC to remain the cornerstone mechanism for dealing with Myanmar.