MALAYSIA REQUESTS CHINA’S HELP TO END THE ROHINGYA CRISIS
Zahid and Meng discuss measures China could take to help refugees
MALAYSIA has requested the Chinese government to help end the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the request was made during his private meeting with China’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Secretary Meng Jianzhu on Tuesday.
“Meng has informed me that the Chinese government has channelled US$10 million (RM42.2 million) in food, equipment and other necessities to the Rohingya through the Bangladeshi government,” he said here yesterday.
Zahid, who is also home minister, said he and Meng discussed in detail, several measures the Chinese government could take to assist the persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar.
“I am certain that, through its good relations with Myanmar, China will take several diplomatic measures and conduct negotiations to resolve the problem in Myanmar ’s Rakhine State,” he said.
Present were Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, Malaysian ambassador to China Datuk Zainuddin Yahya and Home Ministry deputy secretary-general of security Datuk Seri Mustafa Ibrahim.
Bangladesh had said it was struggling to cope with the tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees who are crossing the border from Myanmar every day.
According to the United Nations, some 700,000 displaced Rohingya Muslims had fled to Bangladesh to escape the violence in Rakhine State amid allegations of genocide committed by the Myanmar military.
Zahid said he had achieved the objectives of his three-day working visit to China, which ended yesterday.
On Tuesday, Zahid led the Malaysian delegation during the opening ceremony of the 86th Interpol General Assembly, which was officiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He was also the first head of delegation to deliver his speech during a group meeting with Interpol president Meng Hongwei and representatives from Belgium, the United States, Cameroon, Russia and Brazil on Tuesday.
“During the meeting, we agreed that developing countries facing cybercrime and transnational crime should be assisted by Interpol,” he said.
He added that Interpol would also tackle transnational crime by providing adequate training and equipment for police officers worldwide.
“This includes the sharing of information among Interpol member countries, especially those that are often targeted by international crime (syndicates).”
Zahid and his wife, Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, left the Beijing Capital International Airport for Kuala Lumpur at noon yesterday.
He was in Beijing at the invitation of China Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun.
This was Zahid’s third working visit to China since assuming office in July 2015. He visited the country in February last year and January this year.