Myanmar welcomes repatriated Malaysian citizens “as soon as possible”

“ Vwe will bring back these citizens, whose identity was verified as soon as possible”, said Min Aung Hlaing during a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital.

The Burmese leader began a two-day visit to Malaysia on Wednesday, which is the first trip to the country since he took power through the coup d'état of 2021, at a time when Kuala Lumpur requests cooperation for the contested repatriation of thousands of Burmese migrants.

Min Aung Hlaing left, in April, the position of chief of the armed forces to become President, following elections denounced abroad as a maneuver to prolong the military regime under a civil disguise.

Since the election, Min Aung Hlaing has been engaged in restoring Myanmar's diplomatic relations, largely marginalized since the coup, followed by a bloody civil war.

The repatriation of 5,000 Burmese citizens, announced in July by Anwar Ibrahim, is at the heart of the discussions. A first group of about 1,500 were repatriated to Myanmar on Sunday.

The Malaysian authorities did not specify how many Rohingya were among the people who returned to the country.

However, the announcement of these repatriations raised concerns about this persecuted Muslim minority, which is the majority of Burmese refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, according to the UN.

Anwar Ibrahim reiterated today his thanks to Myanmar for having once again welcomed migrants and “for their frankness and willingness to collaborate”.