Malaysia urged to halt deportation of Myanmar refugees

More than 160 civil society organizations and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are urging the Malaysian government to halt planned deportations of Myanmar refugees, including the Rohingya, scheduled to begin on September 29. The first phase involves the return of approximately 1,476 to 1,500 individuals.

Advocacy groups expressed “grave concerns” regarding Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal to coordinate with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing to facilitate these returns. Critics argue that returning refugees to Myanmar poses severe risks due to ongoing armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and the threat of forced conscription into various armed groups, such as the military and the Arakan Army.

MSF has called on Malaysia to disclose specific information regarding the citizenship, age, and protection risks of those identified for deportation. The organization emphasized that individuals facing persecution or serious threats should not be returned to a country where their safety cannot be guaranteed, noting that Myanmar remains a high-risk environment for civilians.