MANILA: Although Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may have felt that his stern message on Myanmar's human rights violation and continued massacre of the Rohingya may have fallen on deaf ears, the opposition to this is otherwise unanimous.
Zahid said he noticed the Myanmar delegation remained void of emotions as he sounded out the violations and the cruel blockade of international humanitarian aid.
"I don't know whether they (the Myanmar delegation) understood my message. They remained unperturbed as earlier they were more keen to justify the military action in Rakhine," said Zahid.
The Deputy Prime Minister was speaking at the Conrad Manila Hotel in wrapping up his three-day visit here to lead the Malaysian delegation at the 11th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and the second Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism.
Zahid had slighted Myanmar for the extreme military action and massacre of civilian Rohingya including women and children.
"This is inhumane. Women and children are being massacred. Other countries want to help, but Myanmar has forced a blockade on humanitarian aid, so much so that we need to seek the help of neighbouring Bangladesh for aid to reach the Rohingya," said Zahid.
"This is happening in a country being led by a Nobel Peace laureate, which claims to be a democracy."
Zahid continued his swipe at Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Su Kyi, lamenting that the Nobel Peace laureate, despite her decorated work towards peace in the past, had failed to make the same commitment in her own country.
"I told them this is not how we treat humans. The Rohingya are humans, not animals.
"Despite our differences, we need to come together to resolve this and Myanmar should start acting as a democracy if they claim to be one," said Zahid.
He said despite the cold shoulder received from the Myanmar delegation, the feeling of discontentment over the Rohingya issue is virtually unanimous among other Asean member nations.
"Others have stated their support for Malaysia's stand, though the Myanmar delegation was keener to justify their military action when they took centrestage," said Zahid.
Zahid, in his speech today, again stressed on the need for a collective resolve in the region in the battle against transnational crime, radicalisation and extremism.
The Deputy Prime Minister also held consultative meetings with delegations of China and Japan on joint security, and crime prevention and eradication efforts.
He later received a courtesy call from Singapore Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Manpower and Home Affairs Josephine Teo, before wrapping up his official meetings with a press conference.