PM Anwar: Malaysian government to continue talks with Myanmar on refugee status

A policeman walks in front of buses carrying Myanmar nationals being repatriated from Malaysia to their homeland, seen heading toward the navel base in Lumut, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on September 29, 2026. Malaysia began sending back around 1,500 Myanmar nationals on September 29, AFP journalists saw. — AFP pic

By Soo Wern Jun

First Published: Tuesday, 29 Sep 2026 7:24 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Malaysian government will continue engaging with Myanmar to find an amicable solution to the long-standing issue of refugees. 

He said the issue, which has remained unresolved for decades, had become more complicated as the number of refugees increased, including through negotiations on their possible return.

“That is why in our negotiations, we tie all these together.

“It is easy for them to say: ‘Don’t send them back.’ Where are we going to put these hundreds of thousands?

“So now what we want are conditions so that there is safety. That is why we invited them to negotiate,” he told reporters when met after launching the Professional Conference and Exhibition 2026 (PROFEX 2026) in conjunction with the Malaysia Professional Day.

He said without resolve and negotiations, it may lead to protests. 

Anwar, in expressing appreciation that the Myanmar President had accepted the invitation, has said to allow the matter to be discussed and negotiated.

“So I’m glad that the President is kind enough to accept the invitation and we use that opportunity to discuss, negotiate and even when they agreed to bring back some of these refugees, of course we have to make sure they’ll be protected and whatever facilities be accorded.

“But just to say don’t send them back… There are a lot of concerns here too.

“No country can just accept hundreds of thousands and some countries millions. You have to be able to negotiate,” he added. 

He said that the Malaysian government’s position is to protect the refugees’ welfare, human rights concerns.

“But to just condemn us for taking this initiative, I don’t think it’s fair.

“We are trying to find an amicable resolution to this issue.

“That is why I’ve invited him to continue to negotiate and see the parameters… how to resolve this.”

Further commenting, Anwar said, so far the ones sent, they will bring back their people.

“What else can we do? At least we take the trouble. 

“Just push them back? No, it’s not true to say just push them back.

“We will first negotiate,” he said. 

Anwar said the decision to invite the Myanmar President was important.

“They’ve been there. It’s not a perfect system.

“Some people say that ours is not perfect system too. Many countries are not perfect but still being recognised.”

“I’ve always said there’s the hypocrisy, as many of the countries in the West have been shouting against us but they can accept the atrocities by the Israeli government.

“And when it comes to here, we are trying to resolve,” he said. 

The Prime Minister stressed that Malaysia was stringent in its conditions.

“What is the solution?

“As being suggested by many of this organisations, keep them here? How many hundred thousands? Two hundred thousand?

“We use this platform diplomatically to negotiate,” he said.