Myanmar to take back 5,000 Rohingyas

Myanmar has agreed to accept the return of 5,000 Rohingya asylum seekers currently living in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced, marking a significant development in efforts to address the long-running refugee issue between the two countries.

Speaking at a campaign rally ahead of regional elections in Negeri Sembilan, Anwar said the agreement had been made possible through Malaysia's good relations with Myanmar. "We have good relations with Myanmar. They have now agreed to take 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia," Anwar said.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his ministry had been tasked with locating, identifying and screening the refugees before Malaysia's Foreign Ministry holds further discussions with Myanmar on the repatriation process.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has long served as a refuge for Rohingya fleeing persecution in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 126,000 Rohingya were registered in Malaysia at the end of February.