Malaysia has begun the first phase of repatriating up to 5,000 Myanmar migrants, including Rohingya, to the conflict-torn country, despite warnings from the United Nations and refugee advocates. Buses carrying the migrants arrived at a stadium near Malaysia's Lumut naval base on Tuesday, accompanied by security vehicles. The repatriation process, agreed with Myanmar's military regime, is described by Malaysia as strictly voluntary, though the UN refugee agency and civil society groups have raised concerns about the safety of those returning.

The repatriation involves 1,476 Myanmar citizens identified by the Myanmar government, according to Malaysia's Home Ministry. The move comes amid tightened immigration enforcement in Malaysia, driven by rising local hostility against refugees, particularly ethnic Rohingya Muslims. Myanmar's state media cited the Foreign Ministry this month, stating it is working with countries to facilitate the voluntary return of verified displaced people in a safe and dignified manner.

The security situation in Myanmar remains dire, with the country in more pronounced turmoil since the 2021 coup triggered a civil war. The military now fights armed groups across multiple frontlines. However, allegations of persecution and ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya minority were prevalent long before the full-scale civil war. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated that current conditions do not support the safe and sustainable return of refugees from Myanmar and that it was not involved in agreements like the one struck with Malaysia.

UNHCR data indicates that approximately 193,000 refugees from Myanmar are in Malaysia, with around two-thirds being Rohingya. Activist James Bawi Thang Bik expressed fears that returning migrants could face detention or forced conscription. 'We fear that they may be forced to fight on the frontlines of the conflict. For many it is akin to sending them to a death sentence in their own home,' he said. Online agitation this year has amplified harassment and scrutiny of Rohingya in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stated that he would invite Myanmar's military chief turned president, Min Aung Hlaing, for an official visit in return for accepting the Rohingya returns. Myanmar's government, seeking greater international acceptance five years after ousting former President A, is attempting to portray itself as more politically legitimate.

What remains unknown is the full extent of the repatriation process, the number of migrants expected to return, and the specific measures Malaysia and Myanmar will take to ensure the safety of those returning. The UN and refugee advocates continue to urge caution, emphasizing the risks faced by returning migrants in a country engulfed in conflict.