Malaysia repatriates 1,476 Myanmar refugees amid safety concerns

The Home Ministry repatriated 1,476 Myanmar refugees today, amid condemnation and concerns over their safety given the ongoing conflict in their home country.

In a statement, the ministry said the individuals would be returned on two vessels and a Myanmar government hospital ship.

It stressed that the repatriation was entirely “voluntary”, based on the consent of those involved and the Myanmar government’s agreement to receive them.

"Although Malaysia is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or the 1967 Protocol, the approach taken remains guided by the values of compassion and the spirit of Asean solidarity, ensuring that measures are carried out in an orderly, responsible and humane manner without compromising national security and sovereignty," the Home Ministry said.

The ministry said the first phase of the repatriation programme demonstrated the Madani government’s commitment to addressing long-standing issues involving irregular migration through coordinated enforcement and repatriation.

As of Aug 15, it said 10,388 Myanmar nationals detained at immigration detention depots had undergone verification to establish their identities, immigration status, and security backgrounds.

A report from Bernama cited the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (policy and control) Makhzan Mahyuddin as saying that the refugees repatriated today comprised 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys, and seven girls aged between eight and 60.

"The individuals were identified by the Myanmar government and their names submitted to Malaysia through a diplomatic note dated Aug 13, 2026.

"Following this, coordination was carried out involving the Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, National Security Council, and Defence Ministry, taking into account operational and logistical requirements," he was quoted as telling a press conference at the Lumut Naval Base in Perak today.

READ MORE: COMMENT | M'sia must halt planned return of 1,476 Myanmar refugees to danger

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Malaysia hosts 193,824 refugees from Myanmar, comprising 126,144 Rohingya, 15,774 Chin and 33,002 people from other ethnic groups.

Voluntary returns

The UNHCR has said conditions in Myanmar remain unsafe for refugee returns amid the ongoing conflict, and that returns should be voluntary and take place under conditions of safety and dignity.

Amnesty International Malaysia has likewise called for a halt to forced returns of Rohingya and other Myanmar nationals, citing the continuing conflict and human rights crisis.

In August, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil insisted that Malaysia would not repatriate any refugees who were earmarked for persecution or threats to their lives.

This followed an announcement from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim the month before that Myanmar had agreed to receive 5,000 Rohingya refugees from Malaysia, with the Home Ministry tasked with identifying those involved.

READ MORE: COMMENT | Anwar should keep Myanmar junta at arm's length

A few days later, Associated Press reported Myanmar’s Asean Affairs Department director-general Han Win Aung as saying that the arrangement did not involve Rohingya but Myanmar citizens detained in Malaysia whose nationality could be verified.

The repatriation exercise raised concerns over non-refoulement, the principle prohibiting the return of people to countries where they face persecution or other serious harm.

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