Malaysia has repatriated around 10,000 Myanmar nationals from immigration detention since January, using both air and sea routes, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday.
Speaking during Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar was responding to questions about Malaysia’s handling of Myanmar nationals, including refugees, asylum seekers and members of the Rohingya community.
According to Anwar, some detainees were flown back under arrangements initiated by Myanmar, while approximately 1,400 people were recently returned aboard Myanmar naval vessels.
The latest operation follows the Sept. 29 repatriation of 1,476 Myanmar nationals on three naval vessels, part of a wider arrangement involving approximately 5,000 people.
Those returned had been held across 14 immigration detention centres and underwent identity verification and health screenings. Malaysian authorities have maintained that the repatriations were voluntary.
The programme has, however, prompted concern from international rights officials. The UN Refugee Agency has warned that continuing conflict in Myanmar means conditions are not conducive to safe and sustainable returns.
UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Kelley Currie has also called on Malaysia to halt the repatriations, warning that some of those sent back could face persecution or other serious human rights violations.