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Malaysia defends plan to deport Myanmar nationals
- Immigration chief Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the detainees are accused of not having valid travel documents or overstaying their visas
- He said no refugees registered with the UN or members of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority were among those being deported
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Malaysia on Monday defended a plan to deport 1,200 Myanmar nationals on navy ships sent from their homeland just weeks after a coup, following criticism from the United Nations.
News emerged last week the migrants would be sent home, after the Myanmar military seized power and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the start of February.
Malaysian immigration chief Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the detainees, who will be deported on February 23, are accused of offences including not having valid travel documents and overstaying their visas.
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“It is part of our usual programme to deport illegal immigrants held at detention centres,” he said in a statement, adding Malaysia sent home over 37,000 foreigners last year.
02:28
Myanmar’s military coup raises uncertainty over repatriation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Myanmar’s military coup raises uncertainty over repatriation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
He said no refugees registered with the UN or members of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority are among those being deported.
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