JELEBU: Myanmar has agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya currently in Malaysia following negotiations between the two countries, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The breakthrough reflected Malaysia’s strong diplomatic ties with the nation, he said.
He said Myanmar had also agreed to accept 300,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh as part of the repatriation effort.
“They have now agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia and 300,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh.
“Why? Because we negotiated. That is why maintaining good relations with other countries is important. These matters require careful diplomacy,” he said in his speech when meeting voters in Chennah yesterday.
Anwar stressed that Malaysia would not tolerate Rohingya refugees disrupting public order, saying that he had instructed the Inspector-General of Police to take firm action against those causing disturbances in public places.
Anwar said calls for the Rohingya to be deported had previously been difficult to implement because Myanmar had refused to accept them.
“People say ‘send them back, send them back’. But where do we send them? Previously, Myan-mar did not want to receive them.
“So we had to place them in designated locations,” he said.
The Prime Minister also urged the Rohingya community in Malaysia to respect local laws and avoid causing inconvenience to the public.
“This is our country. Malaysia is our country. Others should not disrupt it. That is why we have to be firm,” he added.
