Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must explain what conceivable basis he has for placing the lives and safety of Rohingya refugees in the hands of an administration headed by President Min Aung Hlaing — the very military commander under whose leadership the Rohingya suffered mass killings, rape, the burning of their villages and forced displacement from Myanmar.

Even more disturbing is the apparent failure of the Malaysian Government to first secure the meaningful participation of the United Nations and UNHCR, and to confront the extensive and continuing findings of the UN and international human-rights organisations on the conditions awaiting Rohingya in Myanmar.

PM Anwar’s failure is a dangerous gamble with the lives of a persecuted people.

Min Aung Hlaing is not an ordinary head of government with whom Malaysia is negotiating a routine repatriation exercise.

He was Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces when the military conducted its brutal 2017 ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya. United Nations investigators documented mass killings, rape and sexual violence, the destruction of Rohingya villages and the forced fleeing of more than 700,000 Rohingya from Myanmar. UN investigators subsequently called for Min Aung Hlaing and other senior generals to be investigated and prosecuted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The International Criminal Court Prosecutor has applied for a warrant of arrest for Min Aung Hlaing's arrest, stating that there are reasonable grounds to believe that he bears criminal responsibility for the crimes against humanity.

Separately, in February 2025, an Argentine federal court exercising universal jurisdiction ordered international arrest warrants against Min Aung Hlaing and other army officials in proceedings concerning alleged genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya.

Against that background, what rational basis does PM Anwar have on dealing with Min Aung Hlaing and for relying upon assurances from the very military junta leadership accused of the ethnic cleansing of the people he now proposes to return?

In  its  latest report of 25 August 2026, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded that, given the ‘further deteriorations’ in Rakhine State, conditions remain ‘non-conducive for safe, sustainable, and dignified returns’. Yet Anwar now proposes precisely such a return. What independent evidence does the Prime Minister possess that entitles him to disregard this stark and recent UN assessment?”

Amnesty International has similarly warned that existing conditions in northern Rakhine State are nowhere near ready for the safe return of the Rohingya and that premature repatriation could have catastrophic consequences.

Has Anwar considered these reports before deciding that Malaysia should proceed with the return of thousands of Rohingya?

Anwar should therefore halt any repatriation until these independent international safeguards are in place and engage the UN and Amnesty International before he considers sending those refugees back.

This is not a matter where political expediency can take precedence over human life.

Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy

President

Malaysian Advancement Party

17.9.2026