Anwar to invite Myanmar president to expedite Rohingya repatriation

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced his intention to invite Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to visit Malaysia in a push to speed up the repatriation of approximately 200,000 Rohingya refugees residing in the country. Anwar emphasized that this diplomatic gesture aims to find a lasting solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis, which has been a source of growing concern and unrest among the local populace.

In previous discussions, Myanmar had agreed to repatriate 5,000 Rohingya refugees in stages, with the first batch of 1,500 individuals scheduled to return within the next two weeks. During an appearance on the Sembang Oh Yeah podcast, Anwar clarified that while Malaysia is open to maintaining friendly relations and trade with Myanmar, it insists that the country must reunite its refugees.

Anwar noted that Malaysia is willing to cover the logistical expenses associated with the repatriation process, such as providing clothing, food, and transportation, deeming it more affordable than managing refugees in detention centers, which can cost between RM50 to RM200 per person daily per person. He also pointed out that the current refugee influx in Malaysia can be traced back to actions taken by past governments, including the organization of large welcome events for refugees.

In July, Anwar had previously announced that Myanmar had agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya refugees from Malaysia, marking the initial step towards resolving the Rohingya refugee issue while simultaneously maintaining public order within Malaysia. Currently, Malaysia is home to one of the largest Rohingya populations in the region, with many of them fleeing persecution in Myanmar's Rakhine state.