US approves US$32m in aid, thanks to Malaysia’s ‘unwavering’ pledge to uphold humanitarian rights

Najib played a major part in US allocating RM135m aid for the Rohingya

MALAYSIA’S unwavering pledge to uphold humanitarian rights is producing results with the United States approving US$32 million (RM135 million) aid for the Rohingya in Myanmar.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said his administration had always advocated humanitarian efforts for the victims of violence, such as the Palestinians and the Rohingya.

“Despite all these efforts, I am baffled and feel slighted when an opposition leader lies by saying I did not raise the Rohingya’s plight when I met President Donald Trump at the White House.

“Because of Malaysia’s commitment to highlight this issue to the president himself, the US government has approved US$32 million for the Rohingya people,” he said at the national-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the Federal Territory Mosque here yesterday.

It was reported on Wednesday that the US would be providing a humanitarian aid package worth nearly US$32 million to the Rohingya, who fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in recent weeks.

This was announced by the US State Department during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Najib’s meeting with Trump had played a part in garnering the support of world leaders for the Rohingya cause.

US Vice-President Mike Pence had, during the UN Security Council meeting on peacekeeping reforms, condemned the attacks by the Myanmar military in Rakhine State, which had displaced more than 420,000 Rohingya.

He also called for an end to the violence against the Rohingya as it could pose a threat to world peace.

Najib said any form of violence against anyone, including the Rohingya, could be seen as a humanitarian tragedy that would end in catastrophe.

“It should not happen anywhere in the world.

“We must come together and stop this violence altogether,” he added.

On the Maal Hijrah celebration, Najib said it should not be seen as merely a celebration, but a significant day with lessons and knowledge that must be embraced and emulated.

“On this day, we must also recognise the sacrifices made by the people despite their differences. This is the foundation of Malaysia’s strength.”

He said the government would also continue to focus on development and welfare projects for the people, such as the mass rapid transit, which was in line with syariah principles.

Present were the prime minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Some 3,000 people attended the celebration yesterday, which marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

YANGON: When officials here toured six European countries in June, they were hoping to drum up investment in transport, energy and education.

Instead, they were bombarded with questions about the country’s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority, who have long complained of persecution by the Buddhist majority in Rakhine State.

“In every country, that issue was always brought up,” Hlaing Maw Oo, secretary of Yangon City Development Committee, said after the 16-day trip.

The situation in Rakhine has worsened since then, with more than 400,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh to escape a military counterinsurgency offensive the United Nations has described as “ethnic cleansing”.

Western trade and investment in Myanmar is small, but there were hopes that a series of reforms this year would prise open an economy stunted by international sanctions and decades of mismanagement under military rule.

With most sanctions now lifted, an expected flood of Western money was seen as a key dividend from the transition to civilian rule under Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Regional diplomats saw it balancing China’s growing influence over its neighbour.

But Suu Kyi has been beset by international criticism for saying little about human rights abuses against the Rohingya, and lawyers, consultants and lobbyists said the European and United States companies that had been circling were now wary of the risks of investing in the country.

Louis Yeung, managing principal of Yangon-based investment firm Faircap Partners, said one of his business partners, a listed, US-based food and beverage company, decided to hold off its plan to enter the Myanmar market for three to five years, citing slower-than-expected reforms and the Rohingya crisis.

“Their conclusion is that it wasn’t the right time for them,” he said.

“They want to see more traction from the government and Rakhine is not helpful.” Reuters