‘We won’t stay silent on Rohingya issue’

> Zahid calls on world to channel humanitarian aid to refugees in Bangladesh

BEIJING: Malaysia will continue to speak out against oppression of the ethnic Rohingya in Myanmar and it calls on the world to channel humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees who have sought shelter in Bangladesh.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he had voiced Malaysia’s views on the issue during his meeting with the Communist Party of China’s Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, Meng Jianzhu.

“China stated that it has channelled, through the Bangladesh government, US$10 million (RM42 million) worth of humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees being sheltered in Bangladesh,” he told the Malaysian media yesterday, the last day of his working visit to China since Monday.

Ahmad Zahid said in view of China being a neighbouring country to Myanmar, Malaysia called on the Chinese government to play a constructive and important diplomatic role in tackling the worsening humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State, Myanmar.

On the role of Interpol, Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, said Malaysia had suggested that with regard to security, Interpol assists countries that were the targets of cross-border crime and help in the area of cyber security.

He said among the assistance that could be rendered was continued training for the police forces in developing countries which transborder criminals could easily sneak into.

Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia also wanted Interpol, which had the functions of providing cooperation in the area of cyber security and assistance in combating various transborder crimes, to continue playing an important role as a major world organisation.

He regards Interpol as the second biggest entity after the United Nations (UN).

“The UN has its General Assembly and so does Interpol, attended by the national police chiefs of the respective countries each year and by their home ministers every two years.”

Earlier, at another press conference, he said sharing biometric information with China since 2011 enabled Malaysia to arrest 29 Uighur militants involved with the Islamic State group and deport them to China for prosecution.

The deputy prime minister said China had praised Malaysia’s action over their arrests and bilateral cooperation in the security aspect had strengthened since.

“They were arrested after having entered Malaysia through neighbouring countries by using false passports,” he said. – Bernama