SHAH ALAM: Malaysia has led the way for global leaders to come together and voice their concern against the atrocities committed towards the Rohingya in Myanmar.
Selangor Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chief Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan said due credit should be given to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for initiating talks with the United States.
“Being a leader from a small country, he managed to persuade some big brothers (leaders from Western countries) to play their part to resolve the issue.
“We cannot allow this (violence against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar) to happen. There must be a concerted effort to put a stop to it.
“And we, Malaysia, cannot do it alone. We need people and leaders from all over the world to come forward,” he told the New Straits Times today.
Meanwhile, Selangor Umno information chief Datuk Zein Isma Ismail said Najib, as a representative of the Muslim world, had played a significant role in pushing the agenda to tackle the Rohingya conflict to world leaders.
He said Najib’s meeting with United States president Donald Trump had proven to be a success.
“Malaysia has always been recognised as a moderate Islamic nation. The fact that Najib had raised the Rohingya’s plight during the meeting with the US president speaks volumes about his concern for the people.
“It also spelt out our concerns and feelings for the Rohingya community in Myanmar. After he (Najib) had made our feelings known, other countries have shown their support.
“It’s not about Rohingya people being Muslims, but it is about humanity. Why can’t they (Rohingya) be treated as humans?
“Hence the meeting was crucial. To know the position of the Western world which dominates the United Nations,” he said.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said Najib had not only piled pressure on the Myanmar government, but also gained the support of many foreign countries.
“The Myanmar government has to be warned about their wrongdoings.
“Najib has the kindness and willingness to help out the Rohingya Muslims.
“Maybe, we can say Najib has the audacity in making a positive resonance to other leaders.
“In fact, he had to act naturally with his diplomacy skills,” he told the New Straits Times today.
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) vice-president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Shamsudin said world leaders should converge in Myanmar’s Rakhine state to see for themselves the violence taking place there.
“Drastic action needs to be taken and we want Myanmar to be removed from Asean.
Penang Malay Association (Pemenang) president Tan Sri Mohd Yusoff Latiff said that Aung San Suu Kyi should no longer stay silent over the issues happening in her country, which had claimed many lives.
"She should not look to defend her political position. She should look beyond that and help the Rohingya people as well.
"Leaders of other countries, including Najib, had voiced out their concerns, and even warned the Myanmar government to facilitate efforts to stop the ethnic cleansing.
"She should listen to it before it gets worse." he said.
Following the meeting with Najib, Trump had ordered the United Nations Security Council to take ‘strong and swift action’ to end violence against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims.
Other world leaders also condemned the atrocities against the Rohingya.
French President Emmanuel Macron labelled the violence as “genocide”, while British Prime Minister Theresa May and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani also joined in the chorus of criticism to put the Council under increasing pressure to step in and address the genocide against the Rohingya.
In December last year Najib had categorically condemned the atrocities against the Rohingya, sending a clear and strong rebuke to the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu-Kyi, stating that "enough is enough".
More than 10,000 people had gathered on Dec 4 at the Solidarity Assembly for Rohingya at Stadium Titiwangsa, including Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Hundreds of thousands Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since August 25, bringing with them tales of mass killings and systematic burning of villages by Myanmar security forces.
This came after Rohingya insurgents carried out attacks against police posts, killing 12 officers. - Additional reporting by Mohamed Basyir