Malaysia says Myanmar refugee return will not go ahead if lives are at risk

Rohingya refugees sit inside a truck as they are taken by police, in front of the office of the UN Refugee Agency, after being evicted from their homes, at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, on July 27, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia will ⁠not proceed with repatriating 5,000 ​Myanmar refugees if their lives are found to be at risk upon ​their return, a government spokesman said ‌on Wednesday, as authorities continued to screen the refugees ahead of the planned handover. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said that the 5,000 to be repatriated were ethnic Rohingya refugees, and that the move ​was being carried out ⁠following rising tensions with local communities in Malaysia.

In the unrest, Rohingya refugee schools across the country were shut down, with many Rohingya children reportedly ‌facing harassment and threats.