Malaysia has begun repatriating Myanmar nationals to their home country under a phased program that has drawn criticism from the United Nations refugee agency and human rights organizations. On Tuesday, the Malaysian government announced that 1,476 individuals held in immigration detention centers were returned to Myanmar in the first stage of a plan to send back 5,000 people.

The government described the repatriation as a "voluntary and phased" initiative carried out in coordination with Myanmar’s military-backed government. The first group of returnees, which includes 1,370 men, 79 women, and 27 children, was transported on three Myanmar naval vessels escorted by Malaysian maritime authorities, after their identities had been vetted and submitted through diplomatic channels.

Malaysia is home to a significant population of Myanmar nationals, including approximately 126,000 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed concern about the timing of the repatriation, citing the ongoing conflict and widespread violence in Myanmar that make safe returns unfeasible. The agency called for transparent procedures to ensure that returns are truly voluntary, informed, and free of coercion.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Malaysia and Asylum Access Malaysia, condemned the repatriation effort as a serious failure in refugee protection. They criticized Malaysia’s lack of formal recognition for refugees under domestic law, which leaves many without legal rights to work and vulnerable to detention.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has emphasized that Malaysia cannot indefinitely accommodate the Rohingya population and has sought to negotiate their return with Myanmar following diplomatic talks last month. Anwar’s government pointed to long-standing challenges, including financial costs, social tensions, and security concerns tied to the refugee presence, as justifications for the repatriation program. The issue has gained increased attention amid rising public hostility and xenophobia toward the Rohingya within Malaysia, fueled in part by misinformation on social media.

Observers note that Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a 2021 coup, is seeking to restore bilateral relations with neighboring countries, including Malaysia. Accepting the return of refugees could serve to bolster his political legitimacy internationally. However, experts warn that the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, marked by widespread human rights abuses, poses serious risks for returnees, particularly members of the Rohingya community who face persecution and forced military conscription.

The Malaysian government stated that over 10,000 Myanmar nationals currently held in immigration detention are undergoing identity verification and security checks, with future repatriation phases contingent on completing these processes. Apart from the planned return of 5,000 individuals, another 4,000 Rohingya refugees are set to be enrolled in a Refugee Registration Document program that addresses legal recognition within Malaysia.