17 September 2026
Media Quote
Responding to the reports that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is prepared to invite Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia as part of efforts to expedite the return of refugees to Myanmar, Amnesty International Malaysia’s Executive Director, Joshua Ericsson, said:
“It is deeply alarming that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appears intent on engaging with Min Aung Hlaing to accelerate the return of Rohingya refugees and other Myanmar nationals even as the human rights crisis in Myanmar remains ongoing.
The issue is not whether Myanmar’s authorities are prepared to accept returning refugees. The reality is refugees cannot return to Myanmar safely, voluntarily and with their rights protected while the risk of persecution, violence or other serious human rights violations persists. Returning refugees under these conditions will not only be a flagrant breach of the principle of non-refoulement but will effectively place thousands of lives in danger. To date, there is no evidence that the situation in Myanmar has improved to an extent that would make returns safe and sustainable.
While the Prime Minister attempts to frame this move as a diplomatic breakthrough, moving forward with these plans will only be placing an indelible black mark on Malaysia’s human rights record.
We are particularly concerned that these discussions are taking place while international accountability efforts remain ongoing, including proceedings before the International Court of Justice and while there is an investigation on Myanmar at the International Criminal Court. Min Aung Hlaing led the Myanmar military during its 2017 campaign against the Rohingya and remains the subject of an arrest warrant request before the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
As long as accountability is lacking and the conditions that forced people to flee remain unchanged, the priority must be protecting refugees and asylum seekers, not expediting their return to an unsafe situation. Malaysia should not place itself on the wrong side of history by pursuing returns before safety, accountability and human rights protections are secured.”
Background
On 16 September 2026, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to invite Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s President and former head of Myanmar’s Armed Forces, to Malaysia. Min Aung Hlaing led the February 2021 coup that deposed Myanmar’s elected government. Anwar Ibrahim said the visit would be part of efforts to expedite the return of Rohingya refugees and other Myanmar nationals from Malaysia to Myanmar.
The announcement follows the Malaysian government’s earlier decision to proceed with the return of 1,476 Myanmar refugees on 29 September 2026 as the first phase of a wider arrangement involving 5,000 Myanmar refugees.
The proposed returns are being pursued against the backdrop of continuing conflict, displacement and serious human rights concerns in Myanmar. In September 2026, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned of a deepening human rights crisis in Myanmar and stated that there can be no basis for returning Rohingya and other refugees to Myanmar amid ongoing insecurity and danger, and that such returns would constitute a flagrant breach of the non-refoulement principle.
Amnesty International has previously stated that positions of power must not shield Min Aung Hlaing from accountability for alleged crimes under international law and has called for accountability for atrocities committed against the Rohingya.