No Rohingya Among 1,476 Myanmar Nationals Repatriated From Malaysia Says Anwar

None of the 1,476 Myanmar nationals repatriated from Malaysia on Sept 29 were Rohingya, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

Anwar said government records showed that no Rohingya had been returned in the first phase, although the matter remained under discussion. He added that he and Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan were expected to raise the issue during discussions with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing.

Anwar Says No Rohingya Were Among 1,476 Myanmar Nationals Sent Home

The repatriation programme covers Myanmar nationals from various ethnic communities, including Rakhine, Karen, Shan and Rohingya. Anwar said those returned would only be repatriated with their consent, which he said was intended to safeguard their safety and human rights.

The Sept 29 operation was the first phase of a programme involving 5,000 people. However, UNHCR has raised concerns over the returns, citing Myanmar’s ongoing conflict and deteriorating humanitarian and human rights conditions.

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin questioned the continued issuance of UNHCR identification cards and called for greater government control over refugee registration.

Anwar agreed Malaysia should strengthen its capacity to manage refugee affairs domestically, but said addressing the longstanding issue would require diplomatic engagement with the United Nations.

The Foreign Ministry is also reviewing UNHCR’s role as Malaysia develops its own refugee management capabilities.