Myanmar's president lands in Kuala Lumpur for two days of talks on returning Myanmar nationals
7 October 2026
Myanmar's president Min Aung Hlaing landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Wednesday for a two-day visit, his first to Malaysia since the military took power in 2021.
Malaysia's government said the visit allows Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to maintain direct engagement with Myanmar, and named the voluntary, dignified and safe repatriation of Myanmar nationals staying illegally in Malaysia as the key bilateral issue.
Anwar has said about 10,000 Myanmar nationals have been sent back since January.
Malaysia hosts about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations refugee agency, including about 126,000 Rohingya.
Since taking office as president in April, Min Aung Hlaing has travelled to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam, China, India, Russia and Belarus.
Malaysia is not a party to the United Nations Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants.
In plain words
Repatriation Return of nationals to their own country — The sending back of people to the country of which they are citizens.
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations — The ten-member grouping of Southeast Asian states to which Myanmar belongs.