Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has backed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s efforts to seek a long-term solution to Malaysia’s decades-old Myanmar refugee issue, as the country begins a phased repatriation programme.
Lim said there were reportedly 215,600 refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia as of February, with 193,800 — nearly 90% — originating from Myanmar.
The DAP veteran said engaging Myanmar authorities would give Malaysia a channel to press for responsibility and safeguards for refugees returning to the country.
“I support Anwar’s insistence that any return must protect refugees’ safety and dignity, with clear safeguards to turn diplomatic commitments into effective protection,” Lim said in a statement.
“A crisis that has persisted for decades demands action. Leaving it unresolved is no solution.
“We must work towards a lasting solution now so that the next administration and future generations of Malaysians do not inherit the same unresolved crisis.”
Lim pointed to international examples, saying Germany had supported the voluntary return of Syrian refugees while providing counselling to those seeking to reintegrate into Syrian society.
He also cited an initiative introduced by the UK and France in August 2025 involving a legal admission route to the UK for some small-boat arrivals in France.
“These examples demonstrate the role of international cooperation and practical assistance in addressing displacement and migration. Malaysia should likewise pursue workable arrangements suited to our circumstances,” he said.
Malaysia began the first phase of its repatriation programme on Tuesday, sending 1,476 Myanmar nationals home aboard three Myanmar naval vessels. They are part of 5,000 people identified for voluntary and phased repatriation under an arrangement between Malaysia and Myanmar.
The programme has drawn scrutiny from refugee and human rights groups, while the government maintains that the returns are voluntary and subject to verification and safeguards.
Anwar has defended engagement with Myanmar, saying Malaysia cannot allow the refugee issue to remain unresolved indefinitely. He said the government would prioritise Malaysians’ security and interests while ensuring its approach remained grounded in law and humanitarian values.
