Faisal Mahmud and Riyaz ul Khaliq
29 September 2026•Update: 29 September 2026
Malaysia began repatriating 1,476 Myanmar nationals Tuesday aboard three Myanmar naval vessels.
The group comprises 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys, and seven girls, age between eight and 60, Malaysian state news agency Bernama reported, citing Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Makhzan Mahyuddin.
The returnees were drawn from 14 immigration detention depots and identified by Myanmar before their names were submitted to Malaysia through an Aug. 13 diplomatic note.
Malaysia says the program is voluntary and being conducted under procedures agreed with Myanmar.
The returnees underwent health checks and identity verification before being transported to the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut.
They are being repatriated aboard the Myanmar naval vessel UMS Moattama, accompanied by UMS King Sin Phyu Shin and the hospital ship UMS Thanlwin, according to Bernama.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last month announced that Myanmar agreed to accept 5,000 Myanmar nationals from Malaysia, with the Home Ministry subsequently beginning identification and screening.
Later, Anwar said he planned to invite Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia for further negotiations on gradually returning refugees while seeking guarantees for their safety and access to medical care.
"People ask why we do not simply send them back. Send them where? Myanmar had refused to accept them before," said Anwar, according to New Straits Times news outlet.
"Now, because of our good relations with Myanmar, they have agreed to take back 5,000 from Malaysia," said Anwar in Simpang Durian town in Jelebu district of Negeri Sembilan state on July 29.
