Malaysia supports Rohingya struggle to return to Myanmar

KUANTAN - Malaysia supports the struggle of the Rohingya community to return to Myanmar as citizens of that country, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.

He said the international community should also not forget the plight of the Rohingya, more than a million are now refugees in Bangladesh, while 150,000 are in Malaysia and some in several other countries.

"They are denied citizenship and we support their efforts and struggle to become citizens like everyone else in Myanmar, besides supporting several efforts to bring those who are guilty to justice.

"These efforts should be jointly supported by the international community, especially ASEAN, because this is a big issue in the Myanmar conflict," he said at a press conference in conjunction with the Familiarisation Visit Programme for Diplomatic Corps here, last night.

Malaysia, said Saifuddin also supports the efforts of the Rohingya who want to work together with the National Unity Government (NUG) and Myanmar's National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) to restore 'normal life' and uphold democracy in Myanmar.

Saifuddin who is also the Member of Parliament for Indera Mahkota informed that he had participated in several events organised by the Rohingya community via video conference on Thursday, which is the fifth anniversary of the 'genocide' killing of the Rohingya population living in Rakhine State, Myanmar that occurred in 2017.

In addition to Gambia's initiative to bring the issue of devastating cruelty against the Rohingya to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Saifuddin said the legal process is also being initiated in Argentina by Rohingya activists.

A mass exodus of the Rohingya began on Aug 25, 2017 after the Myanmar army launched an operation against the Muslim minority, killing, raping and torturing Rohingya men, women, and children. - BERNAMA