The Malaysian government has announced that it will not proceed with plans to return 5,000 Myanmar refugees unless it is certain they will be safe upon their return.
Government spokesperson and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the authorities are currently reviewing the repatriation plan together with the Foreign and Home Ministries. He stressed that Malaysia will not send refugees back if they face persecution or threats to their lives in Myanmar.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously said the refugees, who are mostly Rohingya, would be repatriated following growing tensions between some refugee communities and local residents in Malaysia.
In recent weeks, several Rohingya schools were forced to close after reports of harassment and threats against students. Some refugees were also evicted from their homes in Penang and briefly detained after gathering outside the UN refugee agency's office in Kuala Lumpur to seek assistance.
According to Fahmi, the Malaysian government will first assess the conditions in Myanmar and agree on clear criteria with the Myanmar authorities before making any final decision.
Human Rights Watch has urged Malaysia to abandon the repatriation plan, warning that Rohingya refugees continue to face serious persecution and human rights abuses in Myanmar. The organization called on Malaysia to show regional leadership by protecting refugees rather than returning them to dangerous conditions.
The government says further discussions with Myanmar are ongoing, and no refugees will be returned unless their safety can be guaranteed.
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