Government Examines Security Guarantees Before Repatriating 5,000 Rohingya Ethnic Group

PUTRAJAYA: The government is still examining several aspects, including security guarantees and the criteria set by the Myanmar government, before carrying out the repatriation of 5,000 Rohingya ethnic refugees to that country.

Unity Government Spokesman, Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said that the matter is being examined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) through discussions with the Myanmar junta government.

“This matter is being examined by Wisma Putra and KDN, whereby these 5,000 Myanmar refugees (Rohingya ethnic group) will be identified.

“However, certainly Malaysia, as a country that is also responsible, will not send them back if these 5,000 refugees would either be oppressed or their lives threatened.

“So, there are several matters that we will examine first in discussions with the junta government in Myanmar before we implement it,” he said at a post‑Cabinet meeting press conference here today.

Previously, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was reported to have said that Myanmar had agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya refugees currently in Malaysia, resulting from diplomatic negotiations and good relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister was quoted as saying that the development is an initial step in addressing the issue, as well as to ensure that public order in Malaysia continues to be preserved.

He said that the agreement was achieved through Malaysia’s good relations with Myanmar, thus proving that the refugee issue cannot be resolved solely by calls for them to be sent back.

Elaborating further, Fahmi explained that several matters need to be refined first in discussions with the Myanmar government before the repatriation can be implemented.

“What was informed by the Prime Minister is that the junta government in Myanmar is prepared to accept these 5,000 refugees, but we will examine the criteria and if it is appropriate, we will implement it.

“However, the Prime Minister takes note that we cannot send them back if their lives are threatened,” he said.

He said that Wisma Putra in particular is examining several related matters before any decision is made.

– Berita Harian