SingaporeMyanmar Repatriates 10,000 Migrants
Malaysia sends back thousands of Myanmar nationals amid civil war, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss treatment of returnees with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing. Nearly 10,000 migrants have been repatriated since January, according to state media.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing will visit Malaysia in the next few days, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday. The visit comes after Malaysia launched a plan to return thousands of Myanmar migrants.
About 5,000 Myanmar nationals have agreed to a voluntary return, but authorities have not commented on the ethnicities of those who have returned. A group of nearly 1,500 returnees reached Myanmar on Sunday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia welcomes any country that wants to bring back its people, but Myanmar must guarantee proper treatment of its citizens. He will raise issues towards a solution during the visit.
The repatriation plan follows growing hostility and discriminatory rhetoric against the Rohingya in Malaysia. The UN has criticized Malaysia's push to return migrants to Myanmar under an opaque scheme.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since a 2021 military coup. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has excluded Myanmar from high-level meetings as it has yet to make meaningful progress on the bloc's Five-Point Consensus to end hostilities.
Malaysia hosts about 193,000 refugees from Myanmar, but views them as illegal migrants and a financial and security burden. The country has grown increasingly frustrated by their presence.
The visit will be among Min Aung Hlaing's most diplomatically significant since the 2021 coup. Anwar said he would welcome the Myanmar leader to expedite migrant repatriations.
Key facts
- Myanmar has repatriated nearly 10,000 migrants from Malaysia this year.
- About 5,000 Myanmar nationals have agreed to a voluntary return.
- Malaysia hosts about 193,000 refugees from Myanmar.
- The UN has criticized Malaysia's push to return migrants to Myanmar.
Three perspectives
Neutral
The repatriation of Myanmar migrants from Malaysia is a complex issue, with both countries facing challenges. The visit of Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia is expected to discuss the treatment of returnees and the repatriation process. The international community will be watching the developments closely.
Positive
The repatriation of Myanmar migrants is a step towards resolving the issue, and the visit of Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia could lead to a breakthrough in the negotiations. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's willingness to discuss the treatment of returnees is a positive sign.
Negative
The repatriation of Myanmar migrants has raised concerns about the safety and treatment of returnees, particularly the Rohingya minority. The UN's criticism of Malaysia's push to return migrants to Myanmar under an opaque scheme is a cause for concern.
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