The UN refugee agency has said it is not involved in Malaysia’s planned repatriation of Myanmar refugees, warning that ongoing conflict makes it unsafe for them to return.
The statement follows an announcement by Malaysia’s Home Ministry confirming completion of the first phase of a voluntary repatriation scheme, under which 1,476 refugees are scheduled to be sent back to Myanmar on 29th September. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously said Myanmar had agreed to accept 5,000 Rohingya refugees, as social tensions surrounding refugee populations grow within local communities in Malaysia.
The UNHCR said in an emailed statement to Reuters: “Under customary international law, a binding obligation on all states, no one should be sent to a country where their rights or freedoms may be at risk. Any refugee return must be voluntary, based on an informed decision, and take place in conditions of safety and dignity.”
The agency added: “UNHCR urges that careful consideration be given to the protection needs of all those concerned before they are returned to Myanmar, and stands ready to engage with relevant authorities on protection safeguards.”
A Home Ministry spokesperson declined to comment directly on the UNHCR statement, referring back to earlier official remarks that the repatriation process was voluntary.
As of February, Malaysia hosted roughly 193,800 registered refugees from Myanmar, comprising diverse ethnic groups such as the Rohingya and Chin, according to UNHCR data. Human rights activists estimate that a significant number of additional displaced individuals remain unregistered within the country. Thousands of people have fled Myanmar since the 2021 military coup triggered a nationwide civil war.
The disagreement highlights rising tensions between Southeast Asian governments and international bodies over protection standards. Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, so asylum seekers there are legally classified as undocumented migrants, leaving them vulnerable to detention and deportation despite holding UNHCR identity cards.
Human rights organisations argue that sending individuals back to a country ruled by a military junta puts them at severe risk of persecution, arbitrary arrest, and violence. Meanwhile, local political pressure in Malaysia has intensified, with public debate over resource allocation and security concerns pushing authorities towards stricter border enforcement and repatriation strategies.
The UN maintains that no forced or premature returns should occur until Myanmar demonstrates verified improvements in safety, stability, and human rights observance.
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