Malaysia to Invite Myanmar President for Talks on Rohingya Repatriation
Kuala Lumpur, September 17, 2026: Malaysia is preparing to invite Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing for an official visit as part of a diplomatic effort aimed at advancing the repatriation of Myanmar refugees, including Rohingya people living in Malaysia.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the proposed visit is intended to create a direct channel for negotiations with Myanmar over the return of its nationals. Malaysia has said Myanmar has agreed to receive an initial group of 5,000 refugees, with the process expected to take place in stages.
The first phase of Malaysia’s repatriation programme is expected to involve about 1,476 Myanmar nationals, with the initial return scheduled for later in September. Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry has separately confirmed that arrangements are being coordinated for the repatriation of 1,476 people from Malaysian immigration detention facilities.
Anwar has stressed that any return process must include adequate safety guarantees. Malaysian officials are seeking assurances that people sent back will be protected and that the areas receiving them will be sufficiently safe.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of a much larger refugee situation. Malaysia hosts a substantial population of people from Myanmar, including more than 126,000 registered Rohingya refugees, according to figures cited by the UN refugee agency.
The Rohingya issue is particularly sensitive because many members of the community fled Myanmar following years of persecution and violence. Humanitarian organisations have raised concerns about conditions in Myanmar and the safety of potential returnees.
Malaysia’s approach also reflects the diplomatic difficulty surrounding Myanmar’s current authorities. Anwar has acknowledged that Malaysia and ASEAN have not formally recognised Myanmar’s post-election government, but argued that direct engagement is necessary if Malaysia is to negotiate the return of refugees.
The Malaysian government has said that repatriation should be conducted in an orderly and voluntary manner, while humanitarian safeguards remain an important consideration. The government has also indicated that Malaysia could assist with some of the costs associated with the return process.
The proposed visit by Min Aung Hlaing could therefore become an important diplomatic step in Malaysia’s effort to address the long-running refugee issue through negotiations with Myanmar.
