Myanmar has agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya refugees currently in Malaysia and a further 300,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday, describing the move as the result of sustained diplomatic engagement with the military-led government.

Speaking at a public event in Chennah, Anwar said the agreement underscored the importance of maintaining working relations with Myanmar despite international criticism of its junta, according to The Star of Malaysia.

“That is why it is important to maintain good relations with Myanmar. They have now agreed to take back 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia and 300,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh,” Anwar said.

“Why? Because we negotiated. These matters require careful diplomacy,” he added.

The announcement comes as regional efforts to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees have repeatedly stalled over security concerns, citizenship issues and Myanmar's previous reluctance to accept large-scale returns.

Anwar also said Malaysia would take a tougher stance against Rohingya refugees found disrupting public order, revealing that he had instructed the country's Inspector-General of Police to act firmly against those causing disturbances.

He said previous calls to deport Rohingya refugees had been difficult to implement because Myanmar had refused to receive them, forcing Malaysian authorities to accommodate them in designated locations.

The prime minister urged the Rohingya community to respect Malaysian laws and avoid disrupting businesses, traffic and residential areas, warning that authorities would act against those violating public order.