Malaysia says will not repatriate Myanmar refugees if lives are at risk

The statement follows Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to return 5,000 refugees to Myanmar.

Rohingya refugees gather in front of the office of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) after being evicted from their homes on Jul 27, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Hasnoor Hussain)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not send 5,000 refugees back to Myanmar if authorities conclude their lives would be at risk, a government spokesman said Wednesday (Aug 5), while preparations continued for the potential repatriation.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced last week that Myanmar had agreed to take back 5,000 members of the persecuted Rohingya minority, in a rare repatriation push that has prompted concern from rights groups.

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