Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament in the capital Putrajaya on Tuesday that approximately 10,000 Myanmar nationals have been repatriated from Malaysia since January.
Prime Minister Anwar defended Putrajaya’s immigration enforcement posture while responding to parliamentary inquiries regarding the country’s policy toward asylum-seekers and refugees, particularly the stateless Rohingya population from Myanmar.
He detailed that the returns have been conducted via both air and sea transport, including flights arranged directly by the regime in Naypyidaw and the recent naval transport of 1,476 detainees aboard three Myanmar Navy vessels that departed Lumut Naval Base on Sept. 29.
The Prime Minister clarified that while the overall bilateral framework covers individuals across various ethnic backgrounds, no Rohingya have been returned under the recent repatriation efforts.
Addressing vocal criticism from international human rights organizations and parliamentary backbenchers regarding non-refoulement risks, Anwar stated that Malaysia has exacted explicit diplomatic commitments from the regime in Naypyidaw.
He informed lawmakers that Putrajaya’s core conditions require Myanmar to receive its citizens and guarantee proper, fair treatment free from abuse, coercion, or human rights violations upon their return.
Pointing to U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) data indicating that Malaysia currently hosts roughly 193,000 Myanmar refugees and asylum-seekers, Anwar emphasized that prolonged hosting presents unsustainable financial costs and domestic security challenges.
U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Kelley E. Currie urged Malaysia to halt all deportations in a statement on Oct. 1, warning that returning asylum-seekers to a country engulfed in civil war poses a substantial risk of persecution, torture, and severe human rights violations, directly violating international legal obligations..
Prime Minister Anwar reiterated that because Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, non-citizens residing without valid documentation are classified under national law as illegal migrants.
He confirmed that regional security, refugee returns, and post-repatriation oversight mechanisms will form the core agenda during his upcoming bilateral meeting in Kuala Lumpur with Myanmar regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, who is scheduled to visit Malaysia this week.
