Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to invite Myanmar’s leader, Min Aung Hlaing, for an official visit aimed at accelerating the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. The move follows an agreement reached in July under which Myanmar committed to accepting back 5,000 members of the persecuted Rohingya minority currently residing in Malaysia.

Malaysia hosts one of the largest Rohingya populations outside Myanmar, with over 126,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers from the minority group among more than 215,000 refugees under the United Nations’ mandate. Both countries have indicated that a first group of nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals, although the exact number of Rohingya included remains unclear, will be repatriated voluntarily by late September.

Speaking during a podcast on Wednesday, Anwar said the invitation to Min Aung Hlaing was part of a broader diplomatic effort to address concerns surrounding the Rohingya refugee situation, which has stirred unease among local communities. “We can be friends and trade,” Anwar stated, “We can accept Myanmar, but they must accept [their refugees] back.” He also noted that the repatriation process could be implemented in phases, depending on Myanmar’s capacity to receive returnees.

The announcement follows recent tensions in Malaysia involving Rohingya refugees. Earlier this month, more than 100 Rohingya gathered outside the UN refugee agency’s Kuala Lumpur office were briefly detained by authorities amid threats of eviction from an informal settlement in Penang state. They were released after officials verified their valid UN documentation.

Myanmar pledged earlier in September to ensure “safe and dignified” returns for its displaced citizens amid international scrutiny from the United Nations and rights groups concerned about the voluntariness and conditions of the planned repatriations. Malaysia, which has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not formally recognize refugee status, offers limited protections to refugees, including the Rohingya, many of whom fled following the military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017.

Advocates have expressed concerns over reports of disinformation targeting Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, which has contributed to xenophobic sentiment and harassment. Despite these challenges, the Malaysian government has emphasized its intent to manage the repatriation in a manner that balances humanitarian considerations with domestic social stability.