Malaysia hosts Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing as refugee returns face scrutiny
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is hosting Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing as the countries discuss returning thousands of Myanmar nationals. Malaysia says about 5,000 have agreed to return in stages, but the UN refugee agency and rights groups warn that returnees, including Rohingya, could face persecution or conscription in Myanmar’s conflict.
Bottom line — Malaysia says 3,524 people remain in the planned return programme, while Human Rights Watch says the next deportations should be suspended.
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Malaysia says the first sea transfer sent 1,476 people to Myanmar on September 29; authorities have not disclosed their ethnicities.
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Human Rights Watch says the deportees were taken from immigration detention and that UNHCR could not assess their protection needs or confirm consent.
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Anwar says Malaysia requires Myanmar to accept its citizens and guarantee they are treated without abuse or rights violations.
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Human Rights Watch reports that Myanmar authorities identified people for return and that Malaysia is awaiting a date for the second phase.
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Malaysia hosts more than 215,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR, including more than 126,000 Rohingya, according to Malay Mail and The Straits Times.
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ASEAN leaders have excluded Myanmar’s top leadership from regional summits since the 2021 coup; Malaysia is the fifth member state to host Min Aung Hlaing, according to The Straits Times.