By RK Desk
16 September 2026 | Rohingya Khobor
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he plans to invite Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia for official talks as Kuala Lumpur seeks to advance the return of refugees from Myanmar, including Rohingya.
Anwar said he had informed Malaysia’s Home Ministry and Cabinet of the proposed invitation about two weeks ago and wanted Myanmar to accept refugees currently in Malaysia in stages.
“If 200,000 cannot be taken back at once, take them back gradually, and we will help resolve the matter,” Anwar said during a podcast aired on Wednesday, according to Malaysian state news agency Bernama.
Anwar said previous negotiations had resulted in Myanmar agreeing to accept 5,000 refugees. He has previously described the group as Rohingya, although Malaysia’s formal repatriation arrangements have referred more broadly to Myanmar nationals.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry has separately announced that 1,476 Myanmar nationals are scheduled to be returned on September 29 under the first phase of the programme. The government says those selected agreed to return voluntarily.
The ethnic identities and protection status of all 1,476 prospective returnees have not been publicly established.
Anwar said Malaysia was prepared to cover some costs associated with the return process, including transportation, clothing and food.
Anwar says safety guarantees are part of negotiations
Anwar said Malaysia had told Myanmar that return could not simply involve sending refugees back without guarantees concerning their safety.
He said Malaysia had raised two conditions in previous discussions with Myanmar authorities: an end to violence affecting returnees and access to medical treatment for those who need it.
According to Anwar, Myanmar accepted those conditions.
The assurances have not been independently verified, and it remains unclear how they would be implemented or monitored after return.
UNHCR has warned that conditions in Myanmar remain unsafe for refugee returns because of continuing armed conflict and violence. The UN refugee agency has also said it is not involved in Malaysia’s current return programme and has stressed that any return must be voluntary, informed, safe and dignified.
Malaysia says the 1,476 people scheduled to leave on September 29 signed documents agreeing to return. However, questions remain over whether all prospective returnees have had confidential access to UNHCR, independent legal advice and interpretation, and an unrestricted opportunity to withdraw consent before departure.
Direct engagement with Myanmar
Anwar defended direct negotiations with Myanmar, saying a return process cannot proceed without the agreement of authorities there.
He said Malaysian officials had previously discussed humanitarian, security and refugee issues with Myanmar’s leadership in Bangkok and Beijing.
Malaysia does not formally recognise Myanmar’s post-coup political transition in the same way as a normal democratic government, while ASEAN has continued to limit Myanmar’s political representation at high-level meetings.
Min Aung Hlaing became Myanmar’s president in April 2026 following elections widely criticised by opponents and international observers as being conducted under military control.
For Rohingya refugees, major unresolved issues remain beyond transportation, including legal status, freedom of movement, access to healthcare and education, livelihoods, property rights and protection from renewed persecution.
Malaysia has not yet publicly detailed how these issues would be guaranteed or monitored for those returned under the programme.
