Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - Malaysia has begun repatriating 1,476 Myanmar nationals in the first phase of a wider programme that could see 5,000 people returned to Myanmar.
The group, comprising 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys and seven girls, was transported under tight security toward the Lumut naval base, where Myanmar naval vessels were prepared to take them home. Malaysian authorities describe the programme as voluntary and say the returnees were identified and agreed to return.
The move has drawn concern from the United Nations refugee agency and human rights organisations, which warn that Myanmar remains affected by armed conflict and political instability.
The UNHCR has said current conditions do not support the safe and sustainable return of refugees, while rights groups have raised concerns about possible persecution, forced military conscription and whether proper safeguards were used to determine who could safely return. It remains unclear how many of those in the first group are Rohingya.
Malaysia says the phased repatriation is part of efforts to address undocumented migration and improve management of Myanmar nationals in the country. Further returns will depend on identity verification, documentation and coordination between the two governments.
The programme is now under close international scrutiny as authorities balance Malaysia’s immigration policies with concerns over the safety and rights of those being returned.
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