Solving Solving Rohingya crisis takes a global effort, burden shouldn’t fall on Malaysia’s shoulders alone, says HadiRohingya crisis takes a global effort, burden shouldn’t fall on Malaysia’s shoulders alone, says Hadi

malaymail  

BY DANIAL DZULKIFLY

Monday, 27 Apr 2020 

General view of a Rohingya settlement in Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur April 24, 2020. — Picture Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — The humanitarian crisis that has plagued the Rohingya people needs to be dealt with via an international effort rather than Malaysia solely bearing the burden, said PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

In an exhaustive Facebook posting today, Hadi explained that while Malaysia has done its fair share by aiding refugees, it cannot continue an open-door policy as it could be seen as facilitating the “oppressive” acts of the Myanmar government towards the Rohingya people.

Rohingya Society of Malaysia apologises for certain individuals’ demands

theSundaily
26 APR 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: The Rohingya Society of Malaysia (RSM) today apologised to the Malaysian government and its people on behalf of the refugee community for certain demands allegedly issued by its members recently.

“We apologise to the Malaysian government and its people,” said RSM deputy president Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman, adding that the Rohingya community in the country fully acknowledged their status as refugees.

Please don't hate us, Rohingya plead with Malaysians

THE Star
Sunday, 26 Apr 2020
 RASHVINJEET S. BEDI

IN the six years he has lived in Malaysia, never has Rohingya refugee Rahman felt as unsafe as he does now.

The 27-year-old activist has even deactivated his social media accounts because of the hate and threats that have been spewed out against the Rohingya.

"We can never be ungrateful to Malaysia. I can only thank Malaysia for allowing us to stay here. Please don't hate us," says Rahman, who does not want to use his full name for fear of his safety. His real name and picture have been circulated on social media with hate messages.

Malaysia arrests Rohingya in trafficking crackdown

CNA 
21 Apr 2020

Malaysian authorities have arrested two people suspected of being human traffickers in connection with the arrival of this boat crammed with Rohingya migrants in Langkawi on April 5 AFP/Handout

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has arrested two Rohingya for alleged human-trafficking, authorities said Tuesday (Apr 21), as they ramp up efforts to stop members of the Muslim minority coming to the country amid coronavirus fears.

Malaysia is a favoured destination for the group from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, who have long complained of persecution, as it is a Muslim-majority country that already has a sizeable Rohingya diaspora.

Malaysia: Hundreds of Rohingya seeking safety by boat at acute risk from coronavirus

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Source :Amnesty
10 April 2020

The Malaysian authorities should ensure that the 202 Rohingya people found adrift off the country’s coast are spared the risk of mass infection in detention facilities, said Amnesty International Malaysia today.

The group is currently in 14-day quarantine in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

“The government must ensure adequate protection for these Rohingya people, who are in desperate need of safety from both persecution and illness,” said Preethi Bhardwaj, Amnesty International Malaysia’s Interim Executive Director.

Release detained refugees: rights body to Malaysia

The Daily Star
April 10, 2020
Star Online Report

Regional rights body 'Fortify Rights' has called for Malaysia to release detained refugees and prevent arbitrary detention of new arrivals to minimise health risks due to Covid-19.

"Malaysia should take extra precautions now to protect the rights of refugees and refrain from detaining them," said Matthew Smith, chief executive officer of Fortify Rights, in a statement today.

"Detaining refugees after they pass a quarantine and during a pandemic would be irresponsible and inhumane," he said.

Ustaz Rafik is on a mission to feed starving refugees during Covid-19 shutdown and he needs help to do so

malaymail 

Wednesday, 08 Apr 2020

By MARK RYAN RAJ

The refugees show their thankfulness for the help they received by praying with Rafik. — Picture courtesy of Ustaz Rafik.

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 — At the tender age of eight, Rafik Shah arrived on Malaysian soil as a Rohingya refugee with his family.

Thirty six years on, and Rafik, fondly known as Ustaz Rafik, has taken it upon himself to help his fellow stateless refugees as they struggle in his second home, especially now with the Covid-19 outbreak forcing the nation into a four-week shutdown.

Health Ministry assures public Rohingya refugees in Langkawi isolated, being tested

malaymail

Monday, 06 Apr 2020
BY JERRY CHOONG

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah giving a press conference on Covid-19 in MOH , Putrajaya. — Picture by Choo Choy May

 

PUTRAJAYA, April 6 — The Ministry of Health has confirmed today that around 250 Rohingya refugees who landed at Langkawi, Kedah will be tested for Covid-19, following concerns from the public.
Its director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the refugees, who reached the island’s shores near Langkawi’s Ritz Carlton Hotel early yesterday morning, have already been isolated.

New clinic to screen Rohingya for Covid-19 in Selayang, says Health DG

malaymail 

Sunday, 05 Apr 2020

BY DANIAL DZULKIFLY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — Health officials have opened a clinic to screen Rohingyas in Selayang for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Search for 2,000 Rohingya for Covid-19 checks in Malaysia

theSundaily 
19 Mar 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities are scrambling to track down about 2,000 Rohingya men who attended a religious gathering that has led to a big spike in coronavirus cases across Southeast Asia, a security source and two other people told Reuters.

More than 100,000 Rohingya live in Malaysia after fleeing from Myanmar, but they are considered illegal immigrants. Their status would likely make many of them reluctant to identify themselves to get tested for the coronavirus even if they showed symptoms, other sources, in the Rohingya community, said.

Rohingya Crisis in Rakhine: Asean should push for long-term fix

The Daily Star
January 18, 2020
Diplomatic Correspondent

Says Malaysian foreign minister as FM-level meet of the forum ends in Vietnam

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has urged the Asean to address the “civil war” in Myanmar’s Rakhine state to find a long-term solution to the Rohingya crisis.

“The discourse should be expanded beyond the immediate return [of Rohingyas] to a comprehensive discussion on the complexities of the conflict in Rakhine state,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page yesterday, the second day of a two-day Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Vietnam.

Another Rohingya held in Malaysia

Bangkok Post
 9 Jan 2020

Thai police show the image of Murabaek Suson, an illegal Rohingya immigrant who was arrested in Kedah state, Malaysia. (Photo by Assawin Pakkawan)

SONGKHLA: An illegal Rohingya migrant fleeing a detention camp in Thailand has been arrested in Malaysia.

Thai police said on Thursday Murabaek Suson, 17, was captured by Malaysian authorities in Kedah state and wouldl be sent to Thailand.

Duterte asks Malaysia, Indonesia to take in Rohingya refugees

GMA NEWS ONLINE

Published December 23, 2019 

By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News 

 

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday renewed his vow to accept Rohingya refugees and asked Malaysia and Indonesia to do the same.

Duterte made the pitch as he faced agrarian reform beneficiaries in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a territory that saw decades of armed conflict linked to poverty and injustice.

U.N. Human Rights Commissioner meets Rohingya refugees in Malaysia

WION
Reuters ,Kuala Lumpur
Oct 05, 2019,

Bachelet visiting Rohingya education centre. Photograph:( Reuters )

The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Friday paid a visit to a school for Rohingya refugees children in Kuala Lumpur during a visit to Malaysia.

The visit was the first by a current U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to Malaysia.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia

Columbia University

WORLD LEADERS FORUM
Streamed live on Sep 25, 2019

At UN, Dr M blasts international community over continued inaction on Rohingya crisis

malaymail  

25 September 2019 

BY JOSEPH RAJ

 Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks during an event at the 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York September 25, 2019. — Picture via Twitter

NEW YORK, Sept 25 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad criticised the United Nations for its “deafening silence” on the Rohingya crisis.
“It is clear that the Myanmar government is unwilling to take any action to resolve the crisis.

“Therefore, it is left up to us — the international community — to do something about the situation.

“For a start, the UN should play its role, taking into account that it was established in hopes of preventing future human-made miseries. Its silence is deafening,” he said during a high-level side event entitled “Rohingya Crisis — A Way Forward” at the 74th United Nations General Assembly here today. 

US Offers New Aid Package for Rohingya; Bangladeshi, Malaysian PMs Push for Repatriation

Radio Free Asia
2019-09-25

Rohingya refugees stretch their hands to receive aid distributed by local organizations at Balukhali makeshift refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Sept.14, 2017. Reuters 

The United States has announced more than $127 million in new humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees, while the leaders of Bangladesh and Malaysia called on Myanmar to create conditions for repatriating the stateless people.

More than 740,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar’s Rakhine state to neighboring Bangladesh amid a brutal counter-offensive launched by the military in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents on border police and army posts in August 2017.

Malaysian premier’s remarks on Rohingya angers Myanmar

AA 

Sorwar Alam 

01.08.2019

ANKARA 

 

Activists back Mahathir for calling end to genocide and restoring full rights to Rohingya

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s comments on the Rohingya genocide has angered Myanmar, as it continued to deny crimes against the Muslim community in Rakhine state.

In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency last week, Mahathir had said that the Rohingya faced “massacre or genocide” and “they should either be treated as nationals, or they should be given their territory to form their own state.”

Myanmar rejects the comments by Malaysian Leader

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Myanmar
Nay Pyi Taw,
31 July 2019

U Myint Thu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received His Excellency Mr. Zahairi Baharim, Ambassador of Malaysia to Myanmar, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 31 July 2019 at 1500 hrs.

Permanent Secretary expressed his dismay and objected to the comments recently made by Malaysian Prime Minister that displaced persons should be treated as nationals or be given a chance to form their own state and that genocide is happening in the country.

Dr M: Rohingyas should be citizens or be given their own state

malaymail 
27 July 2019

 Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu during a meeting with their Turkish counterparts at the Presidential Complex in Ankara July 25, 2019. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — The Rohingyas should be treated as Myanmar nationals or be given a chance to form their own state, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said even though Malaysia generally does not wish to interfere with the internal affairs of other countries, it does so in this case due to the massacre or genocide that is happening in Myanmar.