Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Monday that Myanmar had expressed willingness to accept 5,000 refugees, including members of the Rohingya community.
Hasan said the issue was discussed during his recent meeting with Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe, according to state-run news agency Bernama.
He said Myanmar’s new foreign minister had indicated that the country was prepared to receive the 5,000 refugees by ship, but stressed that ensuring their safety remained a key concern.
Hasan also said the refugee issue should not be considered solely in relation to the Rohingya, noting that members of other ethnic communities in Myanmar, including the Chin and Karen, had also been displaced.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in late July that Myanmar had agreed to accept an initial group of 5,000 Rohingya refugees currently residing in Malaysia following bilateral talks.
Malaysia is home to one of the largest Rohingya refugee populations in the region, with many having fled persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil later said Malaysia would not proceed with repatriation if the refugees faced persecution or threats to their lives after returning.
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority in Myanmar, have faced discrimination, persecution and statelessness.
Since 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar amid violent military and armed-group crackdowns. More than 1.3 million have sought refuge in Bangladesh, while others have reached Indonesia and Malaysia through dangerous sea journeys.
PRESS UPDATE