NEW YORK – Heavily impacted by Rohingya refugees fleeing from Myanmar, Malaysia today called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen collaboration with like-minded countries and bodies to find concrete solutions to the crisis.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said that the OIC should especially liaise with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and call for the de-escalation and cessation of violence, especially by the military authorities in Myanmar.
“Both organisations must coordinate humanitarian assistance without discrimination, including in areas not controlled by the military.”
He said this in his address at a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar at the United Nations (UN) headquarters here today.
Zambry is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA) this week.
He pointed out that Asean had in July taken a collective stance to establish inclusive engagements with all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar.
He conveyed four actions that need to be taken, as follows:
- The OIC secretary-general should work continuously together with the Asean special envoy on Myanmar, the UN’s special envoy and the UN’s special rapporteur, to engage with the Myanmar government to resolve the “grave crisis”.
- Member states must strongly emphasise the importance of the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of the displaced Rohingya Muslims.
- Member states should join and continue donating in support of The Gambia’s legal case against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice to finalise the process.
- They should call for the Myanmar government to implement the decision made by the ICJ and resolutions as a start towards achieving peace and stability.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had stressed at the Asean Summit in Jakarta that there are now more than 200,000 refugees from Myanmar in Malaysia.
He had said that it is imperative for the “five points of consensus” brokered by Asean to be implemented, as the conflict in Myanmar affects not only its own people but also impacts neighbours like Malaysia.
Zambry today also noted that Cyclone Mocha which hit Myanmar in May only worsened the humanitarian crisis.
“The dire situation of the Rohingya Muslims is still not improving. The Rohingya Muslims are still subjected to extrajudicial and arbitrary killings, various forms of sexual violence and systematic evictions from their homes,” Zambry said.
Meanwhile, a “high-level event” on the Rohingya crisis hosted by Bangladesh is being held tomorrow with Malaysia as a co-sponsor.
“Following our meeting in Nouakchott (in Mauritania) in March 2023, we are aware that The Gambia’s legal case at ICJ against Myanmar needs more funding. To this end, we appeal to member states to join and continue donating to this noble cause.”
Apart from contributing to the field hospital and medical personnel in the Cox’s Bazar refugee area in Bangladesh, Zambry added, Malaysia has contributed US$100,000 (RM470,000) to the OIC Fund for Rohingya in 2020.
The country has also sheltered thousands of Rohingyas since they fled the oppression in the Rakhine state. Currently, Malaysia is the fourth largest host of Rohingya Muslims in the world, he said. – The Vibes, September 20, 2023
