Urgent need to resolve Rohingya crisis

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9, 2012): Desperation felt by ethnic Rohingyas from Myanmar's Rakhine state may breed elements of "extremism" within the community if neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, fail to offer assistance.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Malaysia has, as such, urged the ruling government to take immediate actions to resolve the ongoing conflict between Muslim-Rohingyas and Buddhist-ethnic Arakanese.

He was replying to Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) who asked about the measures taken by Malaysia and other Asean countries to prevent potential acts of "terrorism" as a result of the humanitarian crisis, which saw thousands fleeing the country as political refugees.

It was reported that in June this year, the Myanmar army and civilian mob had killed 11 Muslims, and there is an estimated 800,000 ethnic Rohingyas living in Myanmar.

"I acknowledge that if no aid is given, there is a possibility that acts of terrorism may occur because they are oppressed.

"And if such acts were to take place, then the first countries to feel the impact would be neighbouring Asean countries," said Anifah, also in response to 17 other questions posed by the MPs on the same issue.

Global bodies including the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), of which Malaysia is a member, has kept a close watch on the plight of ethnic Rohingyas in the state, he added.

He said Malaysia has played its role through a contact group formed to discuss the issue.

"During the group's inaugural meeting in New York on Sept 26, Malaysia has suggested for humanitarian aid to not only be given to Muslims in Rakhine but also the Buddhist-Arakanese.

"We believe this would help to reduce ethnic tensions on both sides," he said, while stressing that Malaysia's stand on the issue is consistent with its "non-interference" foreign policy – acknowledging and respecting the sovereignty of another country.

A humanitarian mission led by Kelab Putra 1Malaysia has reportedly arrived in Rakhine earlier this month with 500 tonnes of provisions, including food and medical supplies.

Meanwhile, to a supplementary question from Datuk Ismail Abdul Muttalib (BN-Maran), Anifah said there are 98,787 political refugees registered in Malaysia as of Sept 1, from which 91,160 are from Myanmar.

Karen Arukesamy & Alyaa Alhadjri at the Dewan Rakyat