Malaysia has said it will not move ahead with a proposed plan to repatriate 5,000 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar unless their safety and security can be guaranteed after their return.

Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said on Wednesday that the foreign and home ministries were still assessing the repatriation proposal announced last week by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, stressing that any decision would depend on conditions in Myanmar.

“Malaysia will not send anyone back to a place where their lives could be at risk,” Fahmi said, as the government continues its review of the plan.

According to Al Jazeera, the proposal comes amid continued concerns over the security situation in Myanmar, where Rohingya communities remain vulnerable following years of persecution, conflict, and instability. Thousands of Rohingya fled the country during the Myanmar military’s 2017 crackdown, which has been described by rights groups and the United Nations as involving widespread atrocities.

Malaysia currently hosts more than 215,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including more than 126,000 Rohingya the largest refugee group in the country. However, Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and does not officially recognize refugee status.

The proposed repatriation initiative has drawn attention as Myanmar continues to face a deepening humanitarian crisis following the 2021 military coup and ongoing armed conflicts across the country. Rights groups have repeatedly warned that conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where many Rohingya originate, remain unsafe for large-scale returns.

The announcement came amid rising pressure on Rohingya communities inside Malaysia. Refugee schools were recently forced to close following a surge in online hate speech, while some refugees were reportedly evicted from informal settlements in Penang state.

More than 100 Rohingya refugees were also briefly detained after gathering outside the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur seeking assistance. They were later released after authorities confirmed that they possessed valid UN documentation.

Rights organizations have warned that growing online misinformation and anti-refugee campaigns in Malaysia are contributing to increased hostility and intimidation against the Rohingya community.

BOB Post