Ankara: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Myanmar has consented to repatriate an initial batch of 5,000 Rohingya refugees currently residing in Malaysia. This development follows bilateral negotiations aimed at addressing the ongoing refugee crisis and maintaining public order within Malaysia.

According to Anadolu Agency, Anwar shared this development during an event where he highlighted the significance of the agreement as a preliminary measure towards resolving the prolonged Rohingya refugee situation. Anwar emphasized the importance of maintaining amicable relations with Myanmar, stating, "People say 'send them back, send them back'. Send them back to where? Myanmar didn't want to take them. That's why good relations with Myanmar matter. Now they've agreed to take 5,000 people first."

Malaysia is home to one of the largest populations of Rohingya refugees in the region, many of whom fled persecution from Myanmar's Rakhine State. Anwar also disclosed that Myanmar had agreed to the repatriation of around 300,000 Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh, though no specific timeline for this process was provided.

The announcement came shortly after more than 100 Rohingya refugees gathered outside the UN refugee agency's office in Kuala Lumpur, having left a settlement in Penang. Malaysian authorities subsequently relocated the group to temporary accommodations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Penang.

Anwar reiterated Malaysia's commitment to ongoing discussions with Myanmar to find a sustainable solution to the regional refugee crisis. The Rohingya, primarily a Muslim minority group in Myanmar, have faced systemic discrimination, persecution, and statelessness, often risking dangerous sea journeys to escape hardship.

Since 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar due to violent military crackdowns, with over 1.3 million seeking refuge in Bangladesh and some reaching Indonesia and Malaysia after perilous sea voyages.