Myanmar is prepared to receive between 3,000 and 4,000 of its citizens currently held at immigration detention depots in Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
According to Astro Awani, the Prime Minister said Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing conveyed the readiness during their bilateral meeting at Bangunan Perdana Putra here today.
However, the repatriation will be subject to identity verification, criminal record checks and procedures agreed upon by both countries.
“The President also mentioned that between 3,000 and 4,000 individuals currently at the detention depots will be repatriated.
“Any individual who can be verified as being from Myanmar can be received back, but criminal record checks and related procedures must be complied with,” he said at a joint press conference with Min Aung Hlaing during the Myanmar president’s official visit to Malaysia.
Anwar said more than 10,493 Myanmar citizens had so far been repatriated from Malaysia by flights and naval vessels.
He said the cooperation also involved coordination between the authorities and the Malaysian and Myanmar navies.
Anwar also thanked the Myanmar government for its willingness to receive its citizens and bear a substantial portion of the repatriation costs.
“Not many countries, based on my experience, are willing to accept repatriations in such large numbers while bearing the costs themselves, as demonstrated by Myanmar,” he said.
Further discussions on the repatriation of remaining Myanmar citizens will continue between the Home Ministry and the relevant Myanmar authorities.
Anwar described his discussions with Min Aung Hlaing as open and constructive, particularly in strengthening bilateral cooperation that benefits people in both countries.
