Myanmar Agrees to Take Back 300,000 Rohingyas from Bangladesh: Malaysian PM

Myanmar has agreed to repatriate 300,000 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh and an additional 5,000 from Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at a public rally in Chennah, a town in the western coastal state of Negeri Sembilan, Anwar Ibrahim stated that the breakthrough was made possible through deliberate diplomatic engagement with Myanmar authorities.

"Our citizens used to say, 'Send the Rohingyas back, send the Rohingyas back.' But where could we send them when Myanmar was unwilling to accept them?" the Prime Minister said. "Recently, they agreed to take back 5,000 from Malaysia and 300,000 from Bangladesh. How was this possible? It was possible because we held talks with them. This is why maintaining good relations and practicing careful diplomacy in these matters is essential."

Mass displacement to Bangladesh began in August 2017 following a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State triggered by attacks on police and military posts by the armed group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). More than 1.5 million Rohingya refugees currently reside in camps across Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, primarily centered around the Kutupalong camp, supported by the Bangladesh government, the United Nations, and international aid agencies.

Malaysia also hosts a significant population of Rohingya refugees, with UN data estimating the number at approximately 126,000.

During the rally, Prime Minister Anwar also issued a stern warning to refugees residing in Malaysia, instructing them to strictly comply with national laws or face firm administrative action.

"I have warned before, and I am warning again. Yesterday, I spoke with the Inspector-General of Police and instructed that their presence should not be seen anywhere outside of refugee camps and authorized areas," Anwar stated. "This is Malaysia. They cannot cause disruptions. If they do, the police will take strict action."