Myanmar Navy ships with 1,476 returnees from Malaysia enter territorial waters

Myanmar Navy vessels UMS King Sin Phyu Shin and UMS Moattama with Myanmar Navy hospital vessel Thanlwin, which will repatriate Myanmar nationals from Malaysia, docked at the Lumut Naval Base in Lumut, Malaysia, on Sept. 29, 2026. (Credit: Reuters)

Nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals repatriated from Malaysia aboard three Myanmar Navy vessels entered home waters on Thursday, and are expected to dock at the commercial hub of Yangon within days, regime media reported on Friday.

The naval convoy—comprising the landing platform dock UMS Mottama, the hospital ship UMS Thanlwin, and the frigate UMS Sin Phyu Shin—departed Malaysia’s Lumut naval base on Sept. 29 after Malaysian authorities handed over 1,476 detainees following identity verification.

The returning group, consisting primarily of individuals who had been held in Malaysian immigration detention depots after serving sentences for immigration violations, marks the first phase of a broader bilateral agreement targeting the return of up to 5,000 nationals.

Regime media reports emphasized that naval personnel provided returnees with medical checkups, meals, clothing, and recreational facilities during the voyage across the Andaman Sea.

Regime officials in Naypyidaw stated that local authorities and family members will meet the deportees at Yangon Port to arrange onward transportation to their home townships and facilitate resettlement assistance.