Myanmar vows swift migrant returns from Malaysia despite safety concerns

Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing pledged on Thursday to quickly accept migrants being repatriated from Malaysia. During a joint news conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Min Aung Hlaing stated that the country will take back verified nationals as soon as possible.

This commitment follows a recent repatriation where nearly 1,500 migrants returned to Myanmar on a Malaysian navy vessel after being held in detention centers. While Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced in July that Myanmar agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya, the Malaysian government later clarified that those being sent back include people of various ethnicities.

The United Nations and human rights groups have raised concerns regarding the safety of these returnees. They question whether individuals can be protected in Myanmar, which has experienced armed conflict since the 2021 military coup. There is specific concern for the Rohingya, who have faced violent persecution in the country. Last month, Myanmar pledged to ensure safe and dignified returns for citizens displaced abroad following criticism from international rights organizations. Malaysia currently hosts approximately 190,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar, most of whom are Rohingya.