KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will seek an explanation from Myanmar over reports that hundreds of its nationals repatriated from Malaysia remain in military detention in Yangon, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said Malaysia would also instruct its charge d'affaires in Myanmar to investigate the allegations and ascertain the condition of those reportedly detained.
"We will ask the Myanmar government to explain if there are reports that 300 people are still being detained.
"We will also instruct our charge d'affaires in Myanmar to investigate and inform us of their situation.
"We will demand that the Myanmar government honour the assurances it gave us," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 26).
Mohamad was responding to Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik), who cited international media reports alleging that about 300 Myanmar nationals repatriated from Malaysia were being held at a military facility in Yangon.
Ahmad Tarmizi said the detainees reportedly included ethnic Rohingya and Rakhine, and questioned whether the Foreign Ministry was aware of their situation.
He also sought clarification on Myanmar's earlier assurances that returning nationals would not face discrimination.
In response, Mohamad said the repatriation had been carried out voluntarily, with those involved signing documents confirming their willingness to return.
He said Myanmar had provided assurances over the returnees' safety, including during discussions with its leadership in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia previously repatriated 1,476 Myanmar nationals aboard three Myanmar naval vessels.
Mohamad said direct engagement with Myanmar's leadership was necessary to address the refugee crisis, which had increasingly affected Malaysia.
He maintained that such engagement did not amount to recognition of Myanmar's current government, but was intended to secure practical solutions to a crisis that had extended beyond Myanmar's borders.
"The visit (by Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia) was to resolve this crisis, not an act to legitimise its government.
"Whether we recognise its current government or not, that is a different matter," he said.
He added that isolating Myanmar would not resolve the crisis, particularly when its leadership continued to maintain relations with major powers and other friendly nations.
