Malaysia has started biometric screening of around 4,000 Myanmar nationals detained in immigration depots to identify those with refugee status, officials said.
The exercise aims to separate refugees from Myanmar nationals who have committed immigration or other offenses, according to government statements [1, 2, 3]. Not all Myanmar nationals targeted live in detention; some are believed to be at large, and the government plans to reach out to encourage their participation [1]. Malaysia’s Myanmar refugee population comprises 19 ethnic groups, including Chin and Arakanese, not just Rohingya [1].
The data collection follows a directive from the National Security Council to obtain accurate biometric and identity data on all refugees, not only those from Myanmar, residing in Malaysia [2, 3]. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced the registration programme on August 9 and said, "I expect we will obtain the first data in the fourth quarter of this year, now it is August. Whatever the number is, I will share it with the media later" [2].
Refugees identified through the biometric Refugee Registration Document (DPP) programme will be prioritized for repatriation managed by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, Wisma Putra. Saifuddin said, "If they are legitimate refugees, then they will certainly be among the first groups we will manage to repatriate. That will be handled by Wisma Putra" [3]. Myanmar agreed last month to accept an initial group of 5,000 of its nationals currently in Malaysia for repatriation, following negotiations [1].
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil stressed Malaysia would not repatriate Myanmar refugees if their lives were at risk, stating, "Malaysia would not return Myanmar refugees if their lives were at risk" [1].
The government aims to compile and publicly share the first comprehensive refugee data set by the fourth quarter of 2026, providing a clearer picture of the community’s demographics and status in Malaysia [1, 2, 3].
