M’sia needs more funding to assist Myanmar refugees: foreign minister

WASHINGTON – Malaysia needs more funding to assist Myanmar refugees in Malaysia, said Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah here, today.

He said Kuala Lumpur was looking at providing education and employment opportunities for 200,000 Myanmar refugees and 150,000 Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.

“There are 48 alternative learning centres (ALCs), set up by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), that could support the education of only 25% of the refugees’ children, due to limited funding,” he said. However, offhand, he could not furnish the exact figures.

Speaking to the media after an informal meeting with Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung here, Saifuddin said that Malaysia has asked third countries, including the United States, to provide financial assistance.

In fact, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob raised the matter when meeting US President Joe Biden and Asean leaders at the just-concluded Asean-US Special Summit here.

“At the moment, we receive financial assistance from the Qatar Foundation to help some of the ALCs,” said the minister.

Myanmar is under junta rule, following the February 1, 2021 coup that overthrew a democratically elected government.

The junta failed to commit to the 5-Point Consensus, reached between Asean leaders and junta chief Min Aung Hlaing during the April 2021 Asean meeting in Jakarta.

The five points are: end the violence; hold constructive talks among all stakeholders; Asean provides humanitarian aid to Myanmar; a special Asean envoy appointed to conduct talks; and the envoy to be allowed to visit the country.

Saifuddin said that Asean needed to be more creative in “doing things” following the lack of progress after one year, the junta having failed to honour its commitment.

He said Asean, for instance, could provide technical support and training for young administrators and volunteers from the NUG.

“I told Mar Aung that Malaysia was not in a position to provide financial assistance, but that we are willing to provide training and we need a third country as a funder,” said Saifuddin.

He said, for example, Malaysia works with the Australian government to train 1,000 English teachers in Afghanistan, with Canberra providing funding.

The Malaysian minister also touched on humanitarian aid during the discussion with Mar Aung.

Saifuddin said that he proposed that each Asean member country offer an NGO to assist in humanitarian work in Myanmar, with Kuala Lumpur offering Mercy Malaysia.

“We want to make sure that the humanitarian aid reaches the targeted groups,” he said.

Kuala Lumpur does not recognise the junta; the Malaysian cabinet has decided that Malaysia can engage with the NUG, the Myanmar shadow government representing lawmakers elected by the people in elections in November 2020. – Bernama, May 15, 2022