Malaysia has begun repatriating 1,476 Myanmar nationals despite warnings from the United Nations refugee agency and human rights groups that conditions in Myanmar remain unsafe for refugees and other vulnerable people.
The first group left Malaysia on Sept. 29 under a programme the government describes as voluntary. The operation is part of a broader plan that could see up to 5,000 Myanmar nationals returned in phases after identity verification and consent procedures.
The returnees were transported to the Lumut Naval Base in Perak, where two Myanmar naval vessels and a hospital ship were prepared to take them back. Malaysian authorities said the group included 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys and seven girls, ranging in age from eight to 60.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry said those selected had undergone biometric identification, immigration-status assessments and security screening. Officials maintain that the repatriations are based on the individuals’ consent and Myanmar’s agreement to receive them.
The programme has drawn concern because Myanmar remains affected by armed conflict and political instability following the 2021 military coup. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said current conditions do not support safe and sustainable returns and confirmed that it was not involved in identifying the people being sent back.
It also remains unclear how many, if any, Rohingya refugees are included in the first group. Malaysia hosts a large Myanmar refugee population, including more than 126,000 Rohingya registered with the UNHCR. Rights groups have warned that Rohingya returning to Myanmar could face persecution, displacement or other serious risks.
More than 160 civil society organisations had urged Malaysia to stop the planned returns, citing continuing violence and the possibility of forced conscription. Advocacy groups have also questioned whether people held in immigration detention can freely make an informed decision to return to a country they previously fled.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the policy as part of efforts to address the country’s long-running refugee and undocumented migrant issues while encouraging Myanmar to take responsibility for its nationals. Myanmar has said it is prepared to facilitate voluntary returns that are safe and dignified.
Further repatriation phases are expected to depend on additional identity verification, documentation and logistical arrangements between Malaysia and Myanmar, while the safety of those returning remains a central concern raised by international and humanitarian organisations.
