Myanmar Agrees to Repatriate 300,000 Rohingya From Bangladesh, Says Malaysia PM

Darwin, July 30 — Myanmar has agreed to repatriate 300,000 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and an additional 5,000 from Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at a public gathering in Chennah, Negeri Sembilan, Anwar said the agreement followed diplomatic discussions between Malaysia and Myanmar.

“People kept telling us, ‘Send the Rohingya back, send the Rohingya back.’ But where could we send them? Myanmar was not willing to accept them,” Anwar said.

“Now they have agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia and 300,000 from Bangladesh.”

He attributed the breakthrough to sustained engagement with Myanmar, stressing that “careful diplomacy” and maintaining good bilateral relations were key to achieving the agreement.

More than one million Rohingya fled Myanmar following a military crackdown in Rakhine State in August 2017, triggered after the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) launched coordinated attacks on police posts and military bases.

The military operation was widely accused of involving killings, sexual violence, arson and other abuses, forcing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to cross into Bangladesh. Most were sheltered in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, where more than 1.5 million Rohingya are currently living, according to the report.

Malaysia also hosts a large Rohingya refugee community. According to the United Nations, about 126,000 Rohingya refugees are currently residing in the country.

During the same event, Anwar warned refugees in Malaysia to comply with the country’s laws or face strict action.

“I have instructed the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that refugees remain within designated camps and approved areas. This is Malaysia. They cannot disturb our society. If they do, the police will take action,” he said.

Source: The Star