Malaysia will not boycott AFF Cup, says Khairy
ROHINGYA PLIGHT: Cabinet to use other avenues to protest against host Myanmar
THE cabinet yesterday decided that the Harimau Malaysia team will proceed with the Asean Football Federation’s (AFF) Suzuki Cup in Myanmar despite the co-host’s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine State.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said instead of withdrawing from the AFF Cup, the government would use other avenues to protest against the Myanmar government.
“We have decided not to pull out of the tournament. We will pursue other avenues to raise our concerns and ask for actions (to stop the persecution in Rakhine).
“We are very concerned with what is happening in Rakhine, but, at the same time, we are also mindful of the international body sanction from Fifa. The cabinet has recommended other options, which include using diplomatic means, which will be announced by the Foreign Ministry,” he said after the cabinet meeting yesterday.
He was responding to a call by a local ulama for Malaysia to pull out of the tournament. Khairy had earlier said Malaysia was considering pulling out of the football tournament co-hosted by Myanmar in protest over its crackdown, described yesterday as “ethnic cleansing” by a United Nations official, on ethnic Rohingya Muslims.
However, the Football Association of Malaysia has urged the government to use other platforms to boycott Myanmar as such a motion would risk a possible global ban by Fifa.
Malaysia has played two games in the tournament in Yangon, Myanmar, and are scheduled to fight for a spot in the semi-finals against the host country today. Malaysia won its first game against Cambodia 3-2, and leads Group B in the cup, which includes Vietnam and Myanmar.
The conflict in Myanmar’s northwestern state of Rakhine has sent hundreds of Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh and poses a serious challenge to Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who swept to power last year with promises of national reconciliation.
Escalating violence has reportedly killed at least 86 people and displaced some 30,000. Myanmar soldiers have been accused of sexually assaulting dozens of women from the persecuted minority.