Malaysia to repatriate 1,476 Myanmar nationals from September 29

Kualalumpur,UPDATED: Aug 27, 2026 20:56 IST

Malaysia will repatriate 1,476 Myanmar nationals next month in the first phase of a voluntary programme, the Home Ministry said on Thursday, as the government moves to deal with the country’s long-running refugee and undocumented migrant issue.

The ministry said the repatriation is part of a broader programme involving 5,000 eligible Myanmar nationals, who will be returned in stages under procedures agreed by the two governments. At the same time, Malaysia is introducing a new refugee registration system that will give its authorities direct access to registration and biometric information.

According to the ministry, the first group was identified by Myanmar’s government and will be sent back on September 29 on two warships and a hospital ship operated by the Myanmar navy.

As of August 15, a total of 10,388 Myanmar nationals were being held at immigration detention depots across the country, the ministry said. Officials hope to complete verification of their identity and refugee claims by the end of the year.

The ministry said the government was also taking bold steps to decisively resolve a refugee issue that has continued for decades and created financial, social and security concerns. More than 95 per cent of refugees in Malaysia are from Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims as well as Chin, Karen and Mon communities.

Malaysia is introducing a Refugee Registration Document as a new system for registering and managing refugees and asylum seekers in the country. The system will replace the earlier refugee registration process managed by the UN refugee agency and will cover people in detention as well as undocumented migrants living outside, including UNHCR cardholders and others claiming to be refugees.

Those who meet the requirements will receive a card allowing them to stay temporarily in Malaysia, subject to government conditions and monitoring, the ministry said.

Malaysia remains a popular destination for refugees from Myanmar because it is relatively accessible, has established Myanmar communities and offers economic opportunities, despite not having a formal refugee protection system. As of the end of February, 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers were registered with UNHCR, with 90 per cent of them from Myanmar.

UNHCR has said refugees face risks including arrest, detention, exploitation and discrimination because there is no clear legal framework protecting their status. Rights groups have raised concerns that replacing the UNHCR registration system without a broader legal framework could leave those problems unresolved. They also said the new system could increase government surveillance of refugees without adequate safeguards for privacy and protection.

The ministry said the new system was “designed to save the nation from a looming demographic crisis”. It said the system would strengthen security, curb the shadow economy, and ensure the welfare and interests of local citizens remain protected and prioritised. It also pledged that the system would be run openly and that there would be “no room for uncertainty.”

In summary, Malaysia plans to begin sending back 1,476 Myanmar nationals on September 29 as part of a wider staged repatriation programme, while also rolling out a new refugee registration system as it seeks to address its long-running refugee and undocumented migrant issue.

With PTI Inputs

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