The government deeply values, aids, and protects its citizens abroad whenever they face hardships, under any circumstances. Furthermore, through Myanmar embassies and consulates-general overseas, the relevant authorities consistently prioritize coordinating with the host governments to provide necessary rescue and repatriation assistance to Myanmar citizens experiencing difficulties abroad for various reasons.
Under the guidance of the Head of State, officials from the Tatmadaw and relevant ministries coordinated to repatriate 1,476 Myanmar citizens who had completed sentences for unlawful residency and other immigration offenses in Malaysia, were detained in immigration depots, and faced difficulties returning home. The Myanmar Navy vessels UMS Mottama, sea-going hospital ship UMS Thanlwin, and UMS Sinphyushin departed Yangon on 24 September to retrieve them. The naval vessels arrived at Lumut Port in Malaysia on the morning of 28 September.
After systematically receiving the detained Myanmar citizens from Malaysian authorities, the ships departed on the evening of 29 September. They docked at No 3 Jetty (Thilawa) in Yangon at around 7:35 am yesterday, completing a smooth and successful repatriation to the motherland.
During the voyage, vessel personnel warmly welcomed the citizens, provided orderly accommodation, delivered necessary healthcare, and prepared daily meals. The servicemen on board and ministry officials also organized recreational activities —including games, movie screenings, and group physical fitness exercises — while supplying clothing and essential personal care items.
Moreover, on the morning of 1 October, as the vessels crossed into Myanmar territorial waters, the returning citizens—who had been away from their homeland for an extended period—applauded and celebrated with joy upon receiving a warm welcome message from the Head of State, greeting them as siblings and family. They expressed heartfelt gratitude for the Head of State’s goodwill and compassion in arranging their return, as well as for the dedicated assistance rendered by all involved officials.
When naval vessels arrived at No 3 Thilawa Jetty in Yangon, officials from relevant ministries, members of the Regional Government, and family members extended a warm and joyous welcome. The returnees were treated to lunch—including chicken rice, snacks, and refreshments—and boarded arranged vehicles heading to pre-designated gathering centres for temporary rest. Relevant authorities conducted verification and screening before systematically transferring them to representatives of Region/State governments, while officials from the Ministry of Immigration and Population issued Unique Identification (UID) cards by region and state. Necessary arrangements are continuing to facilitate their swift reunion with relatives and family members, ensuring their safe return to their respective hometowns.
The government maintains a strong focus on rescuing and repatriating citizens experiencing hardships abroad. In 2026, from January to September, 1,905 stranded Myanmar citizens were repatriated from Cambodia via military and chartered flights; on 23 July 2026, 26 Myanmar fishermen detained in Port Blair for illegally entering Indian waters were brought back aboard Myanmar Airways International (MAI); and on 23 February 2021, 1,086 citizens stranded in Malaysia after serving sentences for immigration violations were returned aboard Tatmadaw naval vessels. Additionally, 8,041 citizens were repatriated by air between January and the end of August 2026. The current mission successfully brought home the remaining 1,476 citizens from Malaysia aboard Myanmar Navy vessels on humanitarian grounds following bilateral governmental coordination.
Driven by the parental benevolence of the Head of State, the steadfast efforts of the Tatmadaw, and the goodwill and cooperation of departmental agencies, the journey home has been accomplished for overseas Myanmar citizens who had endured hardship far from their motherland. As they prepare to reunite with their families, returnees expressed profound relief and joy, shed tears of emotion, and shared their happiness.
Currently, the government is actively driving socioeconomic development initiatives to foster comprehensive national progress and ensure that all citizens can live and work safely. It is emphasized that by recognizing the government’s sincere goodwill and engaging diligently in agriculture, livestock breeding, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) domestically, citizens can enhance national productivity while securing dignified and safe livelihoods.
Consequently, Myanmar citizens intending to work abroad are urged not to fall prey to the allurements and persuasion of human trafficking brokers, to refrain from leaving the country illegally through border areas, and to exercise caution against peer pressure to prevent falling victim to human trafficking. Citizens abroad who encounter difficulties are advised to contact Myanmar embassies and consulates-general; arrangements will be coordinated with the respective host governments to ensure their safe and peaceful return to the motherland.
The following are the joyous expressions and sentiments shared by the returnees from Malaysia and the mission officials upon their smooth return to Myanmar:
Interview 1
A call came from the Malaysian embassy saying my husband was on board the ship. On 9 January, that was the first time I heard his voice again. After that, he told a young navy officer, and that officer contacted me to say, “We are bringing him home.” Coming to welcome him back, I don’t even know how to describe what I felt. But I really kept looking over and over at the number from the phone where I heard his voice. I also want to tell him words of encouragement. He took the risk to go work over there because of our little daughter’s health. Now that he is returning, he knows nothing about how our daughter was hospitalized while he was away. I struggled all alone with our two children. In my heart, I just want to give my husband words of comfort and strength. I am always praying and wishing well for the people who rescued them like this. To tell the truth, since we had been out of touch for so long and had no contacts, I even thought I might never see him again. Whenever the kids went to bed, they would ask, “When is Daddy coming home?” That was the hardest question for me to answer. Now, I can finally answer it. Since he is back, mother and children, father and children are reunited. That is why I am grateful to all the responsible authorities and leaders who brought them home. I thank everyone —regardless of rank, high or low—who helped bring them back so our families could reunite happily like this. The fact that I am crying right now—these are tears of joy. Just as I am overjoyed to see my husband again, may other families experience this joy too. I sincerely thank everyone, wish them well, and hope all the families are as happy as we are.
Interview 2
During the time I spent in prison, no one ever came to check on me. Not a single person turned their head to look. My siblings didn’t, and not one of my friends came either. When it came to food, it was just plain boiled meals. Everything was watery; there was not a single drop of oil. I was held in there for seven whole months, and nobody came to see me. When no one showed up, I was going through immense pain, thinking, “I guess we’ll never get to go home. Will we have to stay here forever? Will our lives end right here?” Right at that moment, when they called out my name, my tears just poured down. It had been so long since I tasted Myanmar food—almost an entire year. Comparing being inside prison to being here, eating Myanmar meals again made me feel overwhelmed with joy. When I got off the vehicle and saw those big ships coming over, I realized, “This isn’t a dream; it’s real.” In that moment, I felt like the happiest person in the whole world.
Interview 3
I am overjoyed, beyond words in my heart. We have longed to return to Myanmar for such a long time. When we first arrived here, we came to earn money to make a living. But we ran into hardships, and as our living situation became suffocating and desperate, we missed our beloved golden land of Myanmar so much and desperately wanted to go back. Just seeing the Myanmar national flag, I couldn’t even put into words how happy I felt — it brought such deep warmth and peace to my heart. I pray from the bottom of my heart that the Head of State and all the people of Myanmar who came to welcome and bring us back are blessed with health of mind and peace of body.
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