Malaysia says 10,000 repatriated to Myanmar ahead of Min Aung Hlaing visit
Malaysia says about 10,000 people have been sent back to Myanmar since January, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim prepares to host Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing in Kuala Lumpur in the next few days. Anwar told parliament that some of those repatriated were flown back on aircraft arranged by the Myanmar government, while nearly 1,500 were returned by sea last week under a bilateral arrangement. He said the returns were being carried out on the condition that Myanmar bring home its citizens and treat them fairly, without abuse or rights violations.
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The repatriations have drawn concern from human rights groups and the United Nations refugee agency, which have warned about the safety of people being sent back, particularly members of the Rohingya Muslim minority. Anwar acknowledged those concerns and said Myanmar authorities had given assurances that returnees would not be harmed. He also said he would continue discussing the issue with Min Aung Hlaing during the planned visit, which he described as part of a diplomatic push for legitimacy by the Myanmar leader.
The issue is significant because Myanmar has been in conflict since the 2021 coup that brought Min Aung Hlaing to power and triggered a civil war. The row also touches on the treatment of Rohingya people, many of whom fled a 2017 military crackdown that forced hundreds of thousands to leave Myanmar. Malaysia has said all returnees agreed to repatriation, but rights monitors have questioned whether refugees had a genuine choice.
The latest returns come as Malaysian immigration officials have stepped up raids on refugee communities, leading to the detention of more than 50,000 refugees in 2026. Rohingya make up the majority of Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, although it remains unclear how many of those sent back were from that group. Malaysia is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants, even though UN data says it hosts about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR.
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Malaysia has long been a destination for people fleeing Myanmar, and UN data cited in the report says it has taken in about 193,000 refugees from the country. The planned meeting between Anwar and Min Aung Hlaing comes against that backdrop, with Kuala Lumpur seeking to balance diplomatic engagement with criticism over the handling of repatriations. The arrangement also raises questions about how returnees will be monitored once they arrive in Myanmar, and whether the assurances given by authorities will be upheld.
What remains unclear is how many of the people returned in recent months were Rohingya, and whether any will face pressure or punishment after arrival. It is also not clear what specific commitments, if any, will be announced when Min Aung Hlaing visits Kuala Lumpur. The next developments to watch are the outcome of the talks, any further repatriation flights or sea transfers, and whether rights groups are allowed to verify conditions for returnees.
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