KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak today reiterated Malaysia's committment towards being a leading global voice for Islam and its followers.
In his first post of the year on his blog najibrazak.com, the prime minister said this was clearly evident in Malaysia's strong stand against the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital city, as well as the nation's stand against the atrocities on by the Rohingya in Myanmar.
"Among the recent issues was the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Malaysia is strongly against this. Never will we agree. I have repeatedly stated our stand at the Umno general assembly, the OIC extraordinary meeting in Istanbul and at the Save Jerusalem Solidarity Gathering," Najib wrote.
He said the atrocities against the Rohingya were also episodes that deeply affected Muslims here, thus Malaysia had played its role as vocal critics in raising the issues not just on Asean platform, but also globally.
"We have extended continuous aid to ease the suffering of the Rohingya, also opening our doors for some of them to share the peace and stability in Malaysia, while the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Myanmar continue to receive various forms of aid from Malaysia," said Najib.
He said that in February, through non-governmental organisation (NGO) Yayasan Ikhlas, RM172,500 in financial aid was delivered via a Bangladeshi NGO to Rohingya refugees at the Kutupalog and Balukhali camps in Bangladesh.
In September, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi oversaw the delivery of humanitarian aid worth RM4 million in goods and equipment to be distributed to Rohingya refugees at the Bangladesh border.
"Then, 12 tonnes of food and essential goods such as disposable diapers, towels, rice and biscuits were sent to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh through a joint humanitarian aid mission by the Armed Forces, Prime Minister's Office and NGO 1M4U," said Najib.
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (MAPIM) and other Islamic NGOs from Malaysia had also sent aid in the form of food and medicine worth RM200,000 to over 140,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The Malaysian Medical Aid Association (Mercy Malaysia) had also opened a mobile clinic at the refugee camps in Thangkali and Kutupaling, while also providing food.
"Apart from the continuous delivery of aid, the government had also established the Medan Hospital at a cost of RM3.5 million, equipped with 50 beds and with the capacity to treat 150 patients at any given time. It is also equipped with to perform surgeries, X-rays and maternal care in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh," said Najib.
"The Medan Hospital was established to provide medical care for Rohingya refugees, including screenings for pregnant women."
Najib said Malaysia will continue to provide aid to Muslims in Palestine and Myanmar, but in order for the atrocities and discrimination to truly end, Muslims in Malaysia and across the world need to stand united.