Myanmar President Visits Malaysia to Negotiate Migrant Repatriation

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing visited Malaysia from October 7 to 8, 2026, for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The discussions focused on the repatriation of Myanmar nationals staying illegally in Malaysia, including Rohingya refugees, as Malaysia seeks to manage its refugee population independently from the UNHCR.

Malaysia reports that approximately 5,000 nationals have agreed to staged repatriation, with 1,476 individuals returned on September 29. Since January 2026, roughly 10,000 Myanmar citizens have been repatriated via air and sea. Anwar Ibrahim defended the policy, stating Malaysia cannot host refugees indefinitely, but insisted on guarantees that returnees receive proper treatment to prevent abuse or human rights violations.

International rights groups and UN rights chief Volker Turk have criticized the transfers, warning that returnees face persecution and forced military conscription in active war zones. While the Government of Myanmar has pledged safe and dignified returns, the visit marks a significant diplomatic effort by Min Aung Hlaing to rebuild regional ties and restore his standing within ASEAN following the 2021 military coup.