Published by New Straits Times, image from New Straits Times.
The denial of entry to a boat containing two to four hundred or more Rohingya refugees on April 16, off the coast of Langkawi, and a statement by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) that voiced concerned over “their poor settlements and living conditions… will bring Covid-19 into the country” were the initial catalysts for a spate of xenophobic and unprecedented attacks on the Rohingya on social media.
This upsurge in negative comments continued when appeals for help from activists to feed the estimated 15,000 Rohingya refugee community living in the area surrounding the Selayang wholesale market came under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
Fortunately, the backlash has been counterbalanced by calls for cooler heads and reason has prevailed. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for new arrivals to be accommodated at special and controlled areas, while government draws up plans to send them to another country.
PAS has been consistent in being at the forefront of advocating the cause of the Rohingya.
The party’s international bureau chief, Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi, urged Malaysians to “strive for a better understanding of the issue within the framework of the country’s sovereignty and humanitarian considerations, while bearing in mind the urgent need to curb the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic as of now”.
He called on Malaysians to be reminded of the underlying issues of genocide and human trafficking in relations to the Rohingya issue. It is heartening to note that within our country, the Rohingya community continue to receive the attention and help from the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Under the current situation with the Covid-19 outbreak and Movement Control Order (MCO), the government should reach out and work with related NGOs like the Rohingya Women Development Network and Elom Empowerment, to strengthen and develop the welfare of the Rohingya community.
Other than that, the government could – through the related ministries and agencies such as the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Communications & Multimedia – counter misinformation (now known as “infodemic”) and provide the real and truthful story so that the public is not misled by fake news.
In this holy month of Ramadan, it is all the more pertinent for Muslims to show solidarity to the oppressed and what more to those of the same religion. Another example is the issue of Palestine reeling under Zionist occupation that continue to be very much at the heart of Malaysia’s global solidarity, sympathy and support for the oppressed.
Instead, we should stand for the same commitment to championing the plight of the Rohingyas – continuously at the forefront in calling the world’s attention to the continuing genocide, including within Asean.
Jason Loh Seong Wei is Head of Social, Law and Human Rights at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
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