Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 28, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is concerned about the crisis affecting the Rohingya in Myanmar as their dire situation may give terrorist groups the chance to recruit new members among them, said Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said the people who are affected by such crises are vulnerable to the influence of terrorist groups as they may feel that it is the only solution to their plight and for a return to their home countries.

He drew parallels with the crisis between Palestine and Israel, where Palestinian refugees have spread around neighbouring countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, and where some have been recruited to become suicide bombers.

“We are concerned that the same situation could happen to the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, as they have been chased away from their homeland,” he told reporters after the launch of the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals (IACSP) Asean Counter Terrorism Symposium here yesterday.

Mohamad stressed that the crisis in Myanmar is a pressing issue in the Southeast Asian region that needs to be addressed by the international community as the Rohingya people have been forced to take refuge in neighbouring countries, noting that over 100,000 Rohingya refugees have entered Malaysia.

“This can no longer be considered an internal conflict or domestic issue. Asean countries, the United Nations and major nations should play a bigger role to ensure that those who are driven out of their country may return and live in harmony,” he said.

The US United Nations Deputy Director of Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate Weixiong Chen noted that the UN secretary-general himself had visited the Rakhine state of Myanmar to discuss with its leaders not only on the situation but also on solutions and the ways to handle it.

“The secretary-general has appointed his special envoy for the situation in Myanmar and she is currently making her first round tour to engage with the regional players,” he said.

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