Kuala Lumpur, October 13 (RASS/AFP) – Malaysia began the repatriation process on Tuesday for nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals as part of a plan to return a total of 5,000 citizens to their home country. The Malaysian government has stated that the repatriation is voluntary. However, human rights and migrant advocacy groups have expressed concerns that these individuals may have been compelled to return due to harsh conditions in detention centers.
Human rights organizations warn that the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar since 2021 has further destabilized security, potentially placing returnees at risk. On Tuesday, dozens of buses escorted by police arrived at an arena in Lumut, where necessary procedures were completed before the individuals were transported to a nearby naval facility to be shipped back to Myanmar.
Neither Malaysia nor Myanmar has provided clear information about how many Rohingya are among the first group. According to the United Nations, approximately two-thirds of the nearly 190,000 Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia are Rohingya. This community has long suffered persecution in Myanmar, especially following the military crackdown in 2017, which displaced millions. Malaysia, not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, lacks formal legal recognition for refugees. Human rights organizations have called for an immediate halt to the repatriation process, citing concerns over the current security situation in Myanmar.
