Dhaka, July 30 -- The Myanmar government has agreed to repatriate 300,000 Rohingya currently living in Bangladesh, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Myanmar will also be repatriating another 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia, he said.

The breakthrough reflects Malaysia's strong diplomatic ties with the military-led nation, Ibrahim said on Wednesday, according to English-language Malaysian newspaper The Star.

"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 to Myanmar.

"Why? Because we negotiated. These matters require careful diplomacy," he said in a speech in Chennah.

A flood of Rohingya refugees flo...