Rohingya: Anwar points fingers at Najib and Hadi, says solution being resolved diplomatically

Rohingya: Anwar points fingers at Najib and Hadi, says solution being resolved diplomatically

Alyaa Alhadjri

Published: Sep 16, 2026 4:01 PM


Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pointed a finger at former premier Najib Abdul Razak and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for previously welcoming Rohingya refugees, while his government is now left to deal with the consequences.

Anwar’s remarks come amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment on social media, particularly targeting Rohingya communities, with online users raising concerns about their presence, alleged misconduct and impact on local livelihoods.

“Remember, the previous government invited them. It held a major rally welcoming them, which naturally encouraged them.

“They came here, and now we have to expel them,” Anwar said in an interview with podcaster Iskandar Ibrahim during a special episode of “Sembang Ohh Yeahh” aired today.


“They were welcomed. There was a major rally. I hope social media users will replay the speeches made by the leaders at the time, including PAS leaders.

“I am the one being blamed, even though others brought them here. What kind of situation is this?” he said.


Anwar was referring to the ummah solidarity rally with Rohingya held in Kuala Lumpur in December 2016, which both Najib and Hadi attended.

However, Anwar acknowledged mounting public frustration over the Rohingya community, claiming that some refugees had broken laws, encroached on villages, held illegal gatherings and taken over local businesses.



“They have clearly become a burden - a security burden, an economic burden and a source of hostility among the people,” said Anwar, who appealed to Malaysians not to attack, intimidate or humiliate them.

“If the Rohingya break the law, we will arrest them. I already issued instructions when they gathered outside the UNHCR office. I told the police to act immediately and not delay.

“However, Malaysia must preserve its image as a humane country. We can arrest them, but do not beat, intimidate or humiliate them,” he stressed.

On Thursday, Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Noor Hisam Nordin reportedly urged the public, including influencers, not to take matters into their own hands over issues involving the Rohingya community, including their settlements.

“What I can say is, do not take matters into your own hands, as we have authorities such as the police, the Immigration Department, and others.

“If there is any uncertainty or incident requiring action by the authorities, including information on Rohingya settlements, report it to the police,” Harian Metro quoted him as saying.

Official invitation for Myanmar leader

Anwar said he had recently informed the cabinet and Home Ministry that he intended to invite Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing for an official visit to Malaysia.

The invitation, he said, was aimed at advancing negotiations for Myanmar to accept Rohingya refugees in stages.

“We can be friends, we can trade, and we can accept Myanmar, but Myanmar must accept the refugees.

“If it cannot accept all 200,000 at once, it can take them back in stages. We will help,” he said.

Anwar said he had previously met Min Aung Hlaing (below, right) in Bangkok, where he sought an end to killings and air strikes in Rakhine following an earthquake in Myanmar.

In return for humanitarian assistance, including a Malaysian field hospital and relief funds, Anwar said Myanmar agreed to halt attacks in the affected area and allow residents access to medical facilities.

He said they met again in Beijing about 18 months ago, when he raised the prospect of Malaysia sending its foreign minister to Myanmar and renewed his call for the country to accept the Rohingya.

Anwar defended his engagement with Myanmar despite Asean’s restrictions on high-level dealings with the junta, arguing that direct negotiations were necessary to resolve the refugee crisis.

“What is the point of constantly shouting and condemning Myanmar? Who is going to take these refugees? Where are we supposed to send them?

“That is why we must negotiate,” he said.


Myanmar agrees to accept 5,000

As a result, Anwar reiterated that Myanmar had so far agreed to accept 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia, of whom 1,500 would be repatriated within the next one or two weeks.

“My solution is to negotiate with the Myanmar government to secure its agreement to take them back. Thank God, it has now agreed to accept 5,000 people,” he said.

According to Anwar, Myanmar would send a ship, while Malaysia would cover the refugees’ food, clothing and transportation costs.

He argued this would be more practical and less costly than housing them indefinitely in immigration detention depots.

“We arrest them and take them to detention depots, but when we want to send them home, Myanmar refuses to accept them.

“It is better for us to pay a little than to bear the cost of feeding hundreds of thousands of people in detention depots,” he said.

Anwar noted that Myanmar had long refused to recognise the Rohingya as citizens, making repatriation difficult.

The prime minister stressed that any repatriation must include security guarantees to prevent returnees from facing violence again.

“Our negotiations are not simply about transporting them home. They also involve security guarantees and ensuring that Muslims in Rakhine have a safe area where they will not be harmed,” he said.

He said Malaysia’s approach was to treat the refugees humanely while working to repatriate them safely.

“We treat them properly and give them food and clothing - but they must return home.

“This is not your country. This is Malaysia, and Malaysians must decide,” he stressed.

***

Rohingyas have never been loyal to Myanmar, never considering themselves as Myanmarese. Their age-old dream was to be part of Ali Jinnah's Pakistan (or today's Bangladesh). But Ali Jinnah rejected their appeals, telling them to be loyal citizens of Myanmar (then Burma).

In Arakan Myanmar they were reported to have ill-treated bumiputeras there as of a lower class to them (as had happened in Fiji), thus it's no wonder the local-indigenous Myanmarese hate them.