Malaysia has said it will not return around 5,000 Myanmar refugees if officials conclude they could face persecution or threats to their lives.
The proposed repatriation has sparked concern among human rights groups, with the government still assessing which refugees would be included and whether conditions in Myanmar would allow for a safe return.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the government spokesman, said Malaysia was discussing the plan with Myanmar authorities and would establish safeguards before any transfers take place.
“Malaysia, as a responsible country, will not return the 5,000 Myanmar refugees if they would either be persecuted or their lives would be threatened,” Mr Fahmi said at a government briefing.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has previously said the group consists of Rohingya refugees, whose presence in Malaysia has become increasingly contentious amid tensions with some local communities.
The tensions have reportedly led to the closure of Rohingya schools in several parts of the country, while children have faced harassment and threats.
In Penang, some refugees were reportedly evicted from their homes. Others were briefly detained after gathering outside the UN refugee agency's office in Kuala Lumpur to seek help.
Mr Fahmi said Myanmar's military authorities were prepared to receive the refugees, but Malaysia would first examine whether returning them would be appropriate.
“The prime minister has taken note that we cannot send them back if their lives are threatened,” he said, adding that the Foreign Ministry was continuing to assess the situation.
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority, have faced decades of discrimination in Myanmar. Hundreds of thousands fled the country following a military crackdown in 2017 and remain in neighbouring Bangladesh and elsewhere in the region.
Myanmar has remained in the grip of conflict since the military seized power in a coup in 2021, with fighting between the junta and armed opposition groups continuing across large parts of the country.
Human Rights Watch has urged Malaysia to abandon the repatriation plan, warning that returning Rohingya refugees could expose them to further persecution and abuse.
“Malaysia should show regional leadership in responding to the crisis in Myanmar rather than forcibly returning people who are the targets of the junta's brutality,” said Bryony Lau, Human Rights Watch's deputy Asia director.
For now, Malaysian officials say no final decision will be taken until the risks facing those being considered for return have been assessed. Photo by James Kerwin from Tbilisi, Wikimedia commons.
