PUTRAJAYA, Sept 29 — A total of 1,476 Myanmar nationals departed Malaysia today under the first phase of a “voluntary” repatriation programme aimed at resolving a protracted, decades-long refugee and undocumented migrant challenge, the Home Ministry (KDN) announced.
The operation is being conducted by sea via two naval vessels and a hospital ship deployed by the Myanmar government, coordinated jointly by KDN, the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), and relevant security agencies.
Amid ongoing scrutiny from human rights and refugee advocacy groups, the ministry reiterated that the repatriation is being executed on a phased and consensual basis, following formal verification and a bilateral agreement with Naypyidaw to accept the returnees.
KDN stated that as of Aug 15, a total of 10,388 Myanmar nationals held across Immigration detention depots nationwide have been undergoing biometric identification, immigration status assessments, and security screenings.
“Of that number, 5,000 Myanmar nationals have been finalised to undergo a voluntary and phased repatriation programme to their country of origin, based on the Myanmar government’s agreement to receive them and the consent of the individuals involved to return voluntarily,” the ministry said in a statement today.
The initial cohort of 1,476 individuals was selected from a verified list submitted by the Myanmar government through an official diplomatic note.
A decades-long policy challenge
KDN stressed that the prolonged presence of displaced foreign nationals, with Myanmar nationals accounting for more than 95 per cent of all registered refugees in the country, has persisted for decades without a sustainable resolution.
The ministry noted that the situation has imposed substantial financial burdens on public infrastructure, created socio-economic friction, and posed long-term national security concerns for Malaysians.
It said that the MADANI administration is enforcing a phased, structured approach grounded in the Federal Constitution and the rule of law.
“Although Malaysia is not a state party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, the approach taken remains rooted in the value of compassion and the Asean spirit of kinship, ensuring that actions are carried out in an orderly, responsible and humane manner without compromising national security and sovereignty,” the statement read.
The ministry added that ongoing bilateral diplomacy alongside rigorous domestic enforcement enables the government to establish comprehensive profiling and biometric data for foreign nationals residing in the country.
KDN confirmed that subsequent repatriation phases will be carried out progressively, subject to document verification, logistical coordination, and operational readiness between Malaysian and Myanmar authorities.
