Malaysia is the first country to successfully facilitate the return of Myanmar nationals to their home country through direct negotiations with the Myanmar government, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar said the number of Myanmar nationals in Malaysia had reached around 200,000, placing a burden on the country in terms of employment, security and the well-being of local communities.
He said more than 10,000 Myanmar nationals had been repatriated under the outcome of bilateral discussions between the two countries, including more than 1,400 who were recently transported home aboard a Myanmar naval vessel after Malaysia granted passage.
“The community is naturally concerned because when the number is so large, it also involves employment, security and the comfort of local people. Therefore, we have to be firm.
“That is why, over the past two years, we decided to hold direct negotiations with the Myanmar government,” he said during the Ministerial Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar said Malaysia had set two main conditions through the negotiations — that Myanmar nationals be returned to their country of origin and that the Myanmar government provide assurances that they would receive reasonable treatment upon their return.
“I understand the concerns of the international community, including human rights, as well as the concerns raised by our colleagues in Parliament and non-governmental organisations outside Parliament,” he said.
Anwar said the issue would continue to be raised during the upcoming visit of Myanmar’s president to Malaysia in the coming days, including discussions involving the Foreign Ministry and Home Ministry.
He added that Malaysia was also bound by ASEAN cooperation in seeking a long-term solution to the situation in Myanmar, while taking into consideration international concerns over human rights.
