PM TO SPEAK TO TRUMP
Najib will highlight atrocities against Rohingya in visit to Washington
FERNANDO FONG SUBANG kee.soon@nst.com.my
ISSUES on atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims will be highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during his meeting with United States President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
Najib expressed hope that Trump would consider looking into the humanitarian crisis, which saw more than 300,000 people fleeing Rakhine State in Myanmar to escape violent oppression by the government.
Najib said Malaysia was compelled to embark on the humanitarian mission as the crisis had escalated to a “frightening proportion”.
Malaysia is the first Asean country to send aid to the Rohingya.
“We cannot treat it lightly because according to the report we have received, they (Rohingya) are being mercilessly persecuted.
“They (the Rohingya) have been abused, tortured, killed, raped and (subjected to) frightening acts.
“I will raise this issue for his (Trump’s) consideration, as he also has many other challenges on his plate, including tension with North Korea, among others,” Najib said after sending off a humanitarian mission team yesterday to help Rohingya refugees seeking shelter in Bangladesh.
The mission, which departed from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) airbase here, comprised 12 personnel from the Armed Forces and Defence Ministry.
The endeavour is part of the “Negaraku Prihatin” campaign, which focuses on promoting humanitarian awareness.
Six army personnel, a ministry officer and a 1Malaysia for Youth (iM4U) volunteer boarded an RMAF Airbus A400 military transport aircraft, which is loaded with 12 tonnes of canned food, rice, biscuits, milk powder, hygiene products and water purification tablets, among others.
They arrived in the evening at