Kuala lumpur: Malaysia will prioritise the safety of Myanmar refugees before repatriating them to their home country to ensure their welfare and lives are protected. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan emphasized the importance of this approach during discussions with reporters at a Ziarah Kasih programme held at Taman Pinggiran Senawang.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, cooperation between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Home Ministry (KDN) is crucial in verifying the refugees' status and assessing the security situation they would face upon their return. Mohamad Hasan has instructed the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to liaise with the Myanmar government through its embassy to facilitate a gradual repatriation process.

Commenting on media reports that the Myanmar government is prepared to repatriate 5,000 of its nationals in Malaysia by ship, Mohamad Hasan stated that Malaysia was ready to proceed in stages, prioritizing those whose statuses have already been verified. "There is no need to wait until there are 5,000 people. The 1,000 already identified for repatriation can be sent back," he noted.

Mohamad Hasan further highlighted that ASEAN views the issue of Myanmar refugees as a serious matter that requires a collective response from member states. He reiterated that the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) should remain the core mechanism for ASEAN in addressing the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.