Myanmar repatriation of 1,476 nationals begins Sept 29 on two warships
The first phase of the repatriation of 1,476 Myanmar nationals begins on Sept 29, Home Ministry said on Friday.
Source: Free Malaysia Today · August 27, 2026 at 12:33 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 AUGUST 2026 —
The first phase of the repatriation of 1,476 Myanmar nationals begins on Sept 29, Home Ministry said on Friday.
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The ministry said the Myanmar nationals would be sent back on two Malaysian warships and a Myanmar hospital ship. The date was agreed in a meeting involving the home, foreign and defence ministries, as well as the National Security Council, it added.
The 1,476 Myanmar nationals were identified by the Myanmar government in a diplomatic note dated Aug 13, according to the ministry.
As of Aug 15, 10,388 Myanmar nationals were being held in immigration detention depots, the ministry said. “This figure covers all detained Myanmar nationals, and not all of them can be considered refugees,” it added.
Separately, 4,008 Myanmar nationals would be registered under the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) initiative this year, with full registration expected by the fourth quarter. The programme will later expand to all undocumented migrants, UNHCR cardholders and those claiming refugee status.
“Registered individuals will receive DPP cards allowing them to stay temporarily, subject to government conditions, controls and monitoring,” the ministry said.
It emphasised that the DPP initiative does not imply Malaysian recognition or participation in the UN Refugee Convention and Protocol.
In late July, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his ministry had started identifying, documenting and screening Myanmar refugees ahead of the plan to repatriate 5,000 of them.
Related: home ministry · Saifuddin Nasution Ismail · Kuala Lumpur