The Rohingyas in Malaysia thanked Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for firmly fighting to stop the atrocities and oppression against the ethnic group in Myanmar.

Rohingyas Association in Malaysia secretary Nursobi Muhamad Sultan said leaders of other countries should emulate his assertiveness in fighting for human rights.

"We (Rohingyas) are grateful that PM Najib is here today to fight for our rights.

"This shows that PM Najib is really concerned about the humanitarian values even though we are not part of this country," he told Bernama when met today.

The prime minister together with at least 10,000 attendees including Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Foreign Minister Anifah Aman participated in the Solidarity for Rohingya gathering at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur today.

Meanwhile, Association of Rohingya Youth in Malaysia deputy chairperson Sulaimeen Muhammad Karim urged the Malaysian government to play an important role in addressing the issue

"Malaysia as a respected nation in South-East Asia should play the role of a 'mediator' to resolve the conflicts," he said.

He added that the Rohingya people were very grateful that the Malaysian government was willing to accept some the refugees and provide appropriate protection.

'Militant claim baseless'

In BANGKOK, the Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand has cautioned the international community not to fall for the "baseless accusation" hurled by the Myanmar government in linking the persecuted Rohingya community with militant organisations.

Its president, Maung Kyaw Nu rubbished Yangon's allegation of a link between the Rohingya and militancy as complete fabrication, solely aimed at garnering regional and international sympathy.

"This (allegation by the Myanmar government) is completely made up by the government, a statement that was fabricated to divert attention and provide its forces with false justification for violence against the Rohingyas (atrocities in Rakhine State)," he told Bernama recently.

The activist who now lives in exile in Thailand, claimed the allegation by Yangon was an "old song" recycled by the country's military in the 1990s, and now by the current civilian administration led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Myanmar government, through its spokesperson, has alleged that a Rohingya-based militant organisation with overseas links had carried out attacks on its Border Guard post on Oct 9, killing a number of security personnel.

The government which is led by Suu Kyi's political party after a landslide victory in a historic general election this year, has also come under stinging criticism by the United Nations (UN) and human rights groups.

- Bernama

(Reporting in Bangkok by Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa)