Malaysia to repatriate 1,476 Myanmar nationals on Sept. 29

Malaysia has finalized the first phase of a voluntary repatriation program that will see 1,476 Myanmar nationals return home on September 29, the government announced this week. The move is part of a broader agreement between Kuala Lumpur and Myanmar's military-backed government to repatriate 5,000 refugees, primarily from the persecuted Rohingya minority, amid rising tensions with local communities in Malaysia. According to a statement from Malaysia's Home Ministry, the first group of 1,476 individuals was identified by the Myanmar government in a diplomatic note dated August 13. The repatriation will be conducted using two Myanmar Navy warships and one hospital ship.