MALAYSIA’S humanitarian stand against the genocidal atrocities towards the Rohingya community in Myanmar cannot be dismissed by Naypyidaw as a ploy by the prime minister for domestic political gain. And, it cannot, too, claim the Asean partnership’s principle of domestic non-interference when there is blatant disregard for human rights on its part. Given that the PM has disclosed the refusal of Myanmar’s State Counsellor — the Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi no less — to a proposed meeting with the PM to discuss the Rohingya tragedy, it leaves Putrajaya with little option. Yesterday’s “Himpunan Solidariti Ummah Untuk Rohingya” at Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur, a stab at activism as a possible means to mobilise more than Malaysians, seems about right.
The ummah was exhorted by Pas leaders to unite in defence of their Muslim brothers and sisters who are being systematically and cruelly decimated by the Buddhist majority of Myanmar. Meanwhile, the across religious differences response of the Malaysian public is very heartening. Malaysians are seeing past religion, focusing instead on humanitarian concerns because ethnic cleansing is despicable, irrespective of the target group, for there is no plausible reason for persecution. And now that the United Nations has declared the Rohingya as the most persecuted community in the world, should not its members take a stand against Naypyidaw? Should pressure not be building up to stop the massacre? What is the point of such a declaration when immediate action to rectify the situation is not forthcoming?
Naypyidaw’s brutality is manifest in the fleeing of a community that has arrived in large numbers on our shores and those of Indonesia. As developing nations struggling to give the best to its citizens, the influx of refugees in both countries is a burden and a security risk. The PM has urged the Indonesian president to protest the abhorrent cruelty of the Naypyidaw regime, too. He puts it thus: “We need to show that we condemn this violence, where the Rohingya are killed, raped, beaten up and burned alive.” President Joko Widodo’s reaction is much anticipated.
But, is there not a more immediate constituency that should be implored to protest the violence? What about Pakatan Harapan which has stood silently by while Umno and Pas cooperated to voice the ummah’s solidarity? DAP may be saying it is not their concern, given the victims are Muslims. Fair enough if they persist on being stubbornly sectarian. How about PKR and Parti Amanah Negara, more so the latter, a splinter of Pas? In fact, the Parliament, as representative of the nation, must take the lead and stand united behind Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak against the genocide in Myanmar. This cannot but be of universal interest. Putrajaya’s position in upholding human rights has been made clear to Naypyidaw. So why are representatives from both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara silent? As leaders of a peaceful and prosperous multiethnic nation, do they not feel that the moral high ground is theirs from which to insist on peace for all?