Myanmar agrees to accept about 5,000 Rohingya refugees in Malaysia

Myanmar has agreed to re-accept about 5,000 Rohingya refugees staying in Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced. He said that although there were difficulties at the start of this process, it has come to fruition due to the good relations between Malaysia and Myanmar. "People say to send the Rohingyas back to their original place, but where to send them? They have to be sent to Myanmar. Previously, Myanmar did not want to accept them," Anwar said. "Due to the good, friendly, and close relations between Malaysia and Myanmar, Myanmar has now agreed to accept 5,000 Rohingya refugees in Malaysia as the first batch," he said. Hundreds of Rohingya refugees who arrived by three buses from Penang last Monday had gathered in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office on Jalan Bukit Pataling, Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Fadil Masd told that these refugees are being moved in stages to three states designated by civil society organizations and UNHCR. Regarding this incident, Anwar said yesterday that refugees who disturb the peace and order of the public in Malaysia or attempt to occupy areas will not be tolerated. Anwar warned that Rohingya refugees in Malaysia should not gather on the streets or in public places and disrupt the rule of law. He added that the police have been instructed to take action against any group that disturbs the public and gathers on the streets, and these refugees will be moved to designated locations.