Episode: KPN 15-08-2026

Malaysian lawmaker calls for parliamentary explanation on plan to repatriate 5,000 Rohingya

Former Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has called on the government to provide Parliament with a detailed explanation of its plan to repatriate 5,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, questioning whether the proposal complies with Malaysia’s long-standing humanitarian policy and international commitments.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Member of Parliament for Indera Mahkota urged Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to deliver a ministerial statement outlining the government’s repatriation strategy, including the implementation of National Security Council Directive No. 23, Malaysia’s overall policy toward Rohingya refugees, and the legal basis for the proposed returns.

“For many years, Malaysia has consistently maintained that any repatriation must be safe, voluntary and dignified, and that conditions in Myanmar must allow for a sustainable return. Does this remain the government’s policy?” Saifuddin Abdullah said.

He also called on the government to disclose what guarantees had been obtained from Myanmar regarding the citizenship, legal status, personal security, freedom of movement and long-term protection of Rohingya refugees who may be returned.

The former foreign minister further questioned whether Malaysia had altered its position toward Myanmar’s military authorities, noting that Kuala Lumpur had previously stated that the junta lacked legitimacy and had failed to implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus.

He asked whether the proposed repatriation would effectively normalize relations with Myanmar’s military administration by entrusting it with the return of Rohingya refugees who had fled persecution and violence.

“Parliament and the Malaysian people deserve clear answers on an issue that goes to the heart of Malaysia’s humanitarian commitments, foreign policy consistency and international standing,” he said.

The comments came after Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced last week that his ministry had begun identifying, documenting and screening Rohingya refugees as part of preparations for the proposed repatriation of an initial group of 5,000 people.

Malaysia’s Rohingya Population

Malaysia hosts one of Southeast Asia’s largest Rohingya refugee communities. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 215,000 refugees and asylum seekers are registered in Malaysia, including about 126,000 Rohingya who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

Malaysia is not a party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and does not formally recognize refugees under domestic law, treating asylum seekers as undocumented migrants. The government has also requested the UNHCR to temporarily suspend the registration of new refugees while developing a national asylum management framework.

The country has faced international scrutiny over previous deportations of Myanmar nationals, including the 2021 return of more than 1,000 people despite legal challenges and concerns raised by human rights organizations that registered refugees and asylum seekers were among those deported.

Background

The Malaysian government recently announced plans to repatriate an initial group of 5,000 Rohingya refugees following discussions with Myanmar. Officials have stated that no repatriation will proceed if returnees face persecution or threats to their lives, while rights advocates continue to emphasize that any return must be voluntary, safe, dignified and carried out in accordance with international humanitarian principles.

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