Malaysia says around 10,000 Myanmar nationals sent home since January

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed on Tuesday that approximately 10,000 Myanmar nationals have been repatriated to their country since January as part of efforts to address the refugee crisis stemming from a civil war in Myanmar. The nation has been engulfed in turmoil since a 2021 coup, which sparked a nationwide conflict, causing hundreds of thousands of people to flee across borders into neighboring countries.

Malaysia has accommodated around 193,000 Myanmar refugees, according to UN data, but the situation has become increasingly burdensome and poses security risks for the nation. Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention and considers asylum-seekers as illegal migrants.

Anwar disclosed during a parliamentary session on Tuesday that some of the repatriated individuals were transported back by planes arranged by the Myanmar government, while around 1,400 were returned via sea last week as part of a bilateral agreement. While acknowledging concerns raised by rights groups and certain lawmakers regarding the potential safety risks faced by those being repatriated, Anwar stated that Myanmar authorities have assured that the individuals will not be harmed upon their return.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib is currently working on conditions for the possibility of starting house arrest, according to his lawyers.

Anwar emphasized that the conditions placed on Myanmar include bringing home their citizens and ensuring fair treatment of people, preventing any abuses, coercion, or rights violations. He expressed his intention to continue discussing the matter with Myanmar's leader, President Min Aung Hlaing, who is scheduled to visit Kuala Lumpur this month.