Malaysia begins returning Myanmar nationals despite warnings over safety

Malaysia has begun repatriating Myanmar nationals under a voluntary program, pressing ahead with the first phase of a process that rights groups say could put vulnerable people at risk. The move matters because it affects one of Southeast Asia’s largest refugee populations and comes amid concerns that returnees may face danger in Myanmar’s unstable security environment.

The first group of 1,476 people left on Sept. 29, with Malaysian officials saying the returns are part of a broader plan involving 5,000 eligible Myanmar nationals. The Home Ministry said the returns are being carried out in stages under procedures agreed by both governments, while the United Nations refugee agency and advocacy groups have urged caution.

Malaysia hosts a large population of refugees and asylum seekers, many of them from Myanmar, including Rohingya, Chin, Karen and Mon communities. The country is not a party to the U.N. Refugee Convention, and refugees there are treated as undocumented migrants. That legal gap has long shaped how Malaysia handles registration, detention and access to protection.

According to the Home Ministry, the first group identified by Myanmar’s government will be sent back on two warships and a hospital ship operated by the Myanmar navy. Officials said the broader effort is aimed at addressing a refugee and undocumented migrant issue that has persisted for decades, while also citing financial, social and security concerns.

Concerns over safety and legal protection

The repatriation is taking place against the backdrop of Myanmar’s armed conflict and political instability following the military takeover in 2021. The UN refugee agency has said conditions in parts of Myanmar remain volatile, and rights groups have warned that returning people in those circumstances could expose them to serious risks.

Malaysia’s own refugee figures underline the scale of the issue. UNHCR has said about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Malaysia at the end of February, and that roughly 90% were from Myanmar. More than 120,000 were Rohingya, a Muslim minority group that has faced years of persecution in Myanmar.

The government is also introducing a Refugee Registration Document system that would replace the UN refugee agency’s previous registration process and give Malaysian authorities direct access to biometric and registration information. Rights groups have warned that without a broader legal framework, the new approach could increase surveillance without solving the underlying protection concerns.

Malaysia says the new system is intended to improve security and better manage refugee registration. For now, the first repatriations mark a significant step in a long-running policy shift, even as questions remain over who will be returned next and how the process will affect people who have sought refuge in the country for years.