Myanmar leader vows to take back migrants from Malaysia ‘as soon as possible’

Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing reviews honour guards during a welcome ceremony at the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya on October 8, 2026. Min Aung Hlaing said Thursday that migrants from his war-torn country held in Malaysian detention centres will be returned home ‘as soon as possible’. — AFP pic

First Published: Thursday, 08 Oct 2026 1:37 PM MYT

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 8 — Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing said Thursday that migrants from his war-torn country held in Malaysian detention centres will be returned home “as soon as possible”.

Min Aung Hlaing has been a pariah in many capitals abroad since his putsch unleashed a civil war, but Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim invited him for talks about returning Myanmar migrants.

“We will take those verified nationals back as soon as possible,” Min Aung Hlaing said at a joint news conference with Anwar in the administrative capital of Putrajaya.

Myanmar’s leader landed on Wednesday for his first visit to Malaysia since taking power in a 2021 coup, as Kuala Lumpur seeks his cooperation to return thousands of migrants.

The opaque repatriation scheme has been criticised by rights monitors, some fearing ethnic Rohingya may be sent back to a country where they have experienced persecution many deem genocide.

The two-day trip comes as Min Aung Hlaing makes a push for diplomatic recognition after being installed in April as civilian president, following elections branded a charade by democracy watchdogs.

Malaysia’s Anwar on Thursday reiterated his thanks to Myanmar for taking back migrants and “for your candid manner and willingness to collaborate.” — AFP