Kuala Lumpur, 17 September (H.S.): Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday that he would invite Min Aung Hlaing, who became president after heading Myanmar’s military government, for an official visit, during which Malaysia would discuss the return of thousands of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

Anwar said Malaysia and Myanmar were not prepared to formally recognize the current government in Myanmar, but maintained that engagement with the country was necessary to discuss issues such as the repatriation of refugees. He said diplomatic dialogue was the only way to find a path towards the safe and phased return of Rohingya refugees.

According to Anwar, Myanmar has approved the return of around 5,000 refugees, with Malaysia agreeing to bear the cost of their repatriation. He expressed hope that following the initial phase, the return of additional refugees could also take place in a phased manner.

Malaysia had earlier said that, under the first phase of a voluntary repatriation programme, it planned to return around 1,500 Myanmar refugees in September. However, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), returning to Myanmar is not currently considered safe for Rohingya refugees.

Min Aung Hlaing assumed power following the military coup in 2021. Since becoming president in April, he has sought to gain international acceptance for his government through foreign visits and official engagements.

Anwar said Malaysia had previously been a vocal critic of Myanmar’s military government and had repeatedly expressed disappointment over its refusal to end the conflict. However, he said practical engagement with Myanmar was now necessary to facilitate the return of refugees.

In recent months, Min Aung Hlaing has visited Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as China, India and Russia. If he visits Malaysia, it would be his fifth visit to one of the 11 ASEAN member states.

The Rohingya are a persecuted minority community from Myanmar. Large numbers of Rohingya have fled Myanmar over the years and sought refuge in neighbouring countries. More than one million Rohingya refugees are living in camps in Bangladesh, while Malaysia is also home to a large number of refugees from Myanmar.

Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the Rohingya community, Anwar said Malaysia could not accommodate them permanently. He maintained that dialogue and diplomacy with Myanmar were necessary to find a solution.

The Malaysian Prime Minister said that instead of relying solely on pressure on Myanmar, pursuing the return of refugees through dialogue would be a more practical approach.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar