A total of 1086 Myanmar nationals who were detained and charged in Malaysia for various reasons, including illegal immigration, arrived in Yangon on Saturday.

Malaysia sought to return the Myanmar nationals to their home country on three ships dispatched by Myanmar's navy on Tuesday.

According to Kairul Dzaimee Daud, director-general of Malaysia's immigration department, the group was detained last year during crackdowns on undocumented migrants and had agreed to return to their country "voluntarily".

Daud added that the group did not include asylum-seekers or any refugees from the Rohingya minority, who are under persecution.

However, a High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday ruled the process should be postponed pending a court action by human rights and refugee groups concerned the individuals would be at risk if they were deported to Myanmar.

Malaysia's government defied the order resulting in criticism from the United Nations, the United States and human rights groups for its actions.

Human rights groups argue the current situation in Myanmar, which witnessed a military takeover earlier this month, puts people at risk.

Malaysia is home to millions of migrants, both documented and undocumented, from the region who often work in poorly paid jobs shunned by Malaysians.

The majority are from Myanmar, among them more than 100,000 Rohingya, as well as tens of thousands from other ethnic minority groups who have fled conflict in their homeland.

(With input from agencies)