A total of 1,476 nationals will be sent back in the first phase, says the home ministry.
The ministry said 1,476 Myanmar nationals would be sent back in the first phase on two Malaysian warships and a Myanmar hospital ship.
“The date was agreed upon in a meeting involving the home, foreign and defence ministries, as well as the National Security Council after considering logistical and coordination requirements.
“The 1,476 Myanmar nationals were identified by the Myanmar government in a diplomatic note dated Aug 13,” said the ministry in a statement.
The home ministry said as of Aug 15, 10,388 Myanmar nationals were being held in immigration detention depots.
“It must be emphasised that this figure covers all detained Myanmar nationals, and not all of them can be considered refugees,” it said.
The ministry also said 4,008 Myanmar nationals would be channelled for registration under the Refugee Registration Document (DPP) initiative this year.
They are expected to be fully registered by the fourth quarter of the year.
The ministry said the programme would then be expanded to all undocumented migrants, as well as UNHCR cardholders and those claiming to be refugees.
“Those who have been registered will be given DPP cards allowing them to stay temporarily, subject to the conditions, controls and monitoring measures set by the government,” it said.
The ministry also emphasised that the DPP initiative cannot be interpreted as Malaysian recognition or participation in the UN Refugee Convention and Protocol.
In late July, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that his ministry had started the process of identifying, documenting and screening Myanmar refugees ahead of Malaysia’s plan to repatriate 5,000 of them. - FMT
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