Myanmar agrees to repatriate 5,000 Rohingya refugees from Malaysia

Rohingya refugee documents. (UNHCR/Christophe Archambault)

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday that Myanmar had agreed to accept the initial group of 5,000 Rohingya refugees currently living in Malaysia after bilateral negotiations.

Speaking at an event, PM Anwar described the deal as a first step to resolve the long-running Rohingya refugee problem and maintain public order in Malaysia, according to local media Free Malaysia Today.

"People say 'send them back, send them back'. Send them back to where? Myanmar doesn't want to accept them," he said, adding: "That's why good relations with Myanmar are important. Now they have agreed to accept 5,000 people first," as reported by Anadolu (29/7).

Malaysia hosts one of the largest Rohingya refugee populations in the region, many of whom fled persecution in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

PM Anwar also said Myanmar had agreed to accept the return of about 300,000 Rohingya refugees currently living in Bangladesh, although he did not give a timeframe for the repatriation.

The announcement came days after more than 100 Rohingya gathered outside the UN refugee agency's office in Kuala Lumpur after leaving a settlement in the northern state of Penang. Malaysian authorities then moved the group to temporary locations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Penang.

PM Anwar said Malaysia would continue discussions with Myanmar to find a long-term solution to the regional refugee crisis.

Rohingya, a Muslim-majority minority in Myanmar, face discrimination, persecution, and statelessness, and often attempt dangerous sea crossings to escape hardship.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar since 2017 due to a crackdown by the military and armed groups. More than 1.3 million have sought refuge in Bangladesh, with some reaching Indonesia and Malaysia after dangerous sea journeys.