Malaysia has denied a claim that it will recruit nearly 200,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next six months. Government spokesperson and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the position at a press conference after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. He said the claim made by a Bangladeshi state minister did not represent the official position of the Bangladesh government.

Fahmi said he had discussed the matter with Malaysia’s human resources minister and was informed that the statement had been made by an individual state minister. Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam said recruitment would begin in phases from late September.

The Malaysian spokesperson also addressed UNHCR concerns that Myanmar remains unsafe for refugee returns. Citing Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, he said 1,476 refugees signed documents stating they wanted to return voluntarily. Malaysia screened 5,000 people from more than 10,000 Myanmar refugees held by immigration authorities, and Myanmar agreed to accept 1,476. Malaysia’s foreign ministry said returnees would not be harmed and would remain safe in Myanmar.