Malaysia to return thousands to Myanmar, prompting U.N. concerns
The move sparked criticism given the large Myanmar population in Malaysia, including 126,000 Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers.
Malaysia has commenced the repatriation of thousands of Myanmar nationals back to the war-torn country, a phased program that has drawn criticism from the United Nations refugee agency and human rights organizations. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Tuesday that 1,476 individuals detained in Malaysia's immigration facilities are being returned as part of the initial stage of a plan to repatriate 5,000 people.
The repatriation effort is described by the government as a "voluntary and phased repatriation" initiative, coordinated with Myanmar. This decision has raised concerns among organizations such as the UNHCR, given the substantial Myanmar population in Malaysia, which includes 126,000 Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers.
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