SUNGAI PETANI, Oct 13 — Myanmar refugees convicted of criminal offences must complete their sentences in this country before being repatriated to their home country.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said although the Myanmar government is prepared to accept back its citizens currently held in Immigration detention depots here, screening will be conducted first before such action is taken.

“The Myanmar government has agreed to accept back its citizens who are here following our screening process, if our records show they were involved in legal violations, we will handle the legal proceedings first,” he said.

He told reporters after the Madani Townhall programme for Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Kedah students with the Home Minister here today.

He added that, based on the initial commitment agreed upon by both parties, 5,000 Myanmar refugees are set to be repatriated.

“We have identified 5,000 refugees and processed 1,400, sending them back by sea... the remaining 3,600 Myanmar nationals are expected to be repatriated in stages subsequently,” he said.

On October 8, Myanmar expressed its readiness to accept the repatriation of up to another 4,000 of its citizens currently held in Immigration detention depots in this country.

This matter was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following a bilateral meeting with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing at Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya. — Bernama