Malaysia has finalized plans to repatriate around 5,000 Myanmar nationals who are currently in the country, with the process to be carried out in phases on a voluntary basis. The first group of 1,476 people is scheduled to return to Myanmar on September 29.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the identities of the 1,476 people selected for the first phase had been verified through a diplomatic note submitted by the Myanmar government on August 13. The repatriation date was subsequently approved during a coordination meeting involving the relevant authorities.
Two Myanmar Navy warships and a hospital ship will be used for the first phase of the repatriation operation. Malaysia’s Home, Foreign Affairs and Defence ministries, along with the National Security Council, have completed the necessary logistical and administrative coordination to facilitate the process.
According to Malaysia’s Home Ministry, 4,008 Myanmar nationals who have claimed refugee status are expected to be brought under the country’s “Document Pendafaran Pelarian” (DPP) refugee registration programme in 2026. At the same time, around another 5,000 Myanmar nationals will be involved in the process of voluntarily returning to their home country.
However, Malaysia is not automatically treating all detained Myanmar nationals as refugees. As of August 15, a total of 10,388 Myanmar nationals were being held at immigration depots across the country. Malaysia’s Immigration Department and the Royal Malaysia Police are reviewing their identities, citizenship, immigration status, refugee claims and security-related information.
The authorities expect the verification process to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026. Those who meet the eligibility requirements of the DPP programme and complete registration will receive DPP cards, allowing them to remain temporarily in Malaysia subject to specified conditions and government monitoring.
Meanwhile, Myanmar nationals who agree to return voluntarily and are deemed eligible for repatriation will be identified separately. They will then be sent back to Myanmar in phases through coordination with the Myanmar government.
Malaysia has said diplomatic discussions with Myanmar will continue alongside the repatriation process. The government also plans to establish a comprehensive database containing information on people claiming refugee or asylum status, while continuing efforts to register and verify their status.
More than 95 percent of refugees in Malaysia are Myanmar nationals. They include not only Rohingya but also members of the Chin, Karen and Mon communities. Given the diverse backgrounds of those affected, Kuala Lumpur has said it intends to strengthen direct diplomatic engagement with Myanmar while taking the circumstances of these communities into consideration.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry emphasized that the repatriation process would be carried out on the basis of mutual agreement and coordination between the two countries. Authorities have also stressed the importance of ensuring that the process is safe, orderly and conducted with respect for the dignity of those being repatriated.
The first phase, involving 1,476 people on September 29, will mark the beginning of a broader process through which Malaysia aims to clarify the status and identities of Myanmar nationals in the country while facilitating the voluntary return of those willing and eligible to go back.
Source: Reuters