Malaysia to prioritise safety of Myanmar refugees before repatriation, says foreign minister

SEREMBAN, Aug 14 — Malaysia's top priority is the safety of Myanmar refugees when repatriating them back to their home country, according to the Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of cooperation between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Home Ministry (KDN) in verifying the refugees' status and evaluating the security situation they would encounter upon their return.

"I have instructed the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage with the Myanmar government via its embassy to facilitate a gradual repatriation process," Hasan mentioned during a recent press conference.

Responding to media reports suggesting the Myanmar government was ready to repatriate 5,000 of its citizens via ship, the Foreign Minister stated that Malaysia would implement a phased approach, prioritizing those whose status had been confirmed. "There is no necessity to wait until all 5,000 individuals are ready. We can begin with the 1,000 already identified for repatriation," he clarified.

Hasan also highlighted that Asean recognizes the significance of the Myanmar refugee situation and that collective action by member states is essential. He further stated that the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) should continue to serve as the foundational principle in tackling the crisis in Myanmar through the Asean mechanism.