Government Urged to Reveal Number of Rohingya in Myanmar Repatriation Programme

The Home Ministry has been urged to provide a detailed breakdown of the number of Rohingya among the 1,476 Myanmar nationals involved in the first phase of the government’s repatriation programme.

Rohingya issue observer Norman Fernandez said greater clarity was needed regarding the ethnic composition of those being returned under the programme. 

Calls for Greater Transparency Over Myanmar Repatriation Numbers

Norman said the 1,476 individuals included people detained at immigration detention centres across Peninsular Malaysia for various immigration offences.

He questioned how many of those being returned were Rohingya, noting that the community’s status in Myanmar remains a sensitive issue. He also asked when the remaining 3,524 people from the government’s stated 5,000-person target would be repatriated. 

The first phase involved 1,370 men, 79 women and 27 children being sent back to Myanmar from the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut, Perak.

Norman also called for registered mainstream and digital media organisations to be allowed to cover the repatriation process. He said greater public access to information would provide transparency on the programme and its implementation.