Home minister: Government resolving persistent refugee problem according to rule of law

The Home minister confirmed a total of 5,000 Myanmar refugees have been finalised to undergo a voluntary and phased repatriation programme back to their country of origin, based on the Myanmar government’s agreement to accept them and the individuals’ consent to return voluntarily. — Bernama pic

First Published: Tuesday, 29 Sep 2026 7:50 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — The Madani Government will not allow the problem of foreign refugee presence to persist indefinitely; instead, it has begun resolving the issue firmly, systematically, and in stages based on the Constitution and the rule of law, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He said that a total of 5,000 Myanmar refugees have been finalised to undergo a voluntary and phased repatriation programme back to their country of origin, based on the Myanmar government’s agreement to accept them and the individuals’ consent to return voluntarily.

“Today, a total of 1,476 individuals began the First Phase of repatriation, based on the list submitted by the Myanmar Government through an official Diplomatic Note.

“This implementation is coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs together with the Malaysian Immigration Department and related agencies. This resolution was also achieved through diplomatic approaches and direct negotiations with the Myanmar Government,” he said in a statement today.

Saifuddin Nasution noted that the presence of foreign refugees, particularly from Myanmar, has dragged on for decades without a definitive resolution, turning into a massive financial burden for the country, triggering serious social crises, and posing a tangible security threat to the citizens.

He said that for issues involving two countries, enforcement actions alone are insufficient; instead, they require cooperation from the country of origin to enable the acceptance, documentation, and repatriation processes to be carried out in an orderly and phased manner.

“This is the approach we are taking: the law is upheld, enforcement is implemented, and diplomatic channels are utilised to produce a solution.

“Although Malaysia is not a State Party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, we choose a firm yet civilised approach centered on the values of compassion and the spirit of ASEAN familyhood, with every action executed in an orderly and responsible manner without compromising national security and sovereignty,” he said.

Saifuddin Nasution stated that today’s first phase was just a beginning, while subsequent phases will proceed as soon as the identification, documentation, verification, and operational readiness processes are completed.

“We are beginning to resolve a legacy problem that has dragged on for a long time, based on the law. We safeguard national sovereignty. The security, welfare, and interests of Malaysian citizens remain the top priority.”

A total of 1,476 Myanmar refugee detainees - comprising 1,370 men, 79 women, and 27 children - were repatriated at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base in Lumut, Perak, today.

The repatriation process was carried out using Myanmar Navy ships, namely the UMS Moattama, escort vessel UMS King Sin Phyu Shin, and medical ship UMS Thanlwin. — Bernama