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Solidarity rally for Rohingya - a reflection for Malaysia

Two motions to debate on the Rohingya issue were filed in the Parliament. However, the motions were rejected by the speaker. On Dec 4, 2016, a solidarity rally for Rohingya was held, attended by the prime minister, deputy prime minister, foreign minister, other ministers as well as Umno and PAS leaders and Muslim NGOs.

Unfortunately, this Rohingya issue is made exclusively for Muslims in Malaysia although it is a human rights issue. Some think that this rally could be a platform for Umno and PAS to champion ‘Muslim’s issues’. Every political action can be interpreted differently. Let’s put those things aside. Rohingya are dying and they desperately need protection, that’s for sure !

A Malaysian perspective

As a Malaysian, I felt a bit relieved that senior politicians especially Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak sent a strong message to the government of Myanmar including Aung San Suu Kyi. Rohingya and other refugees have been coming to Malaysia decades ago and today, the genocide against Rohingya was strongly condemned.

However, I was puzzled with Najib’s speech. As a prime minister of Malaysia, he mocked the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and questioned where the United Nations (UN) was when he could raise this issue by himself through these international instruments as well as Asean.

Politically, Malaysia is not an entity that can be ignored. Malaysia has always been important in the Muslim world, South-East Asia and the developing world. I believe that raising the atrocities happening to Rohingya through these platforms would be the very first baby-step to many solutions.

A refugee perspective

From the Rohingya perspective, this rally could be their ‘historic moment’. My Rohingya friend said that “This is the first time a nation’s leader publicly support Rohingya”. No wonder, many buses chartered to transport Rohingya from all over Malaysia including from Johor, Alor Setar and the East Coast to Titiwangsa Stadium. Denied citizenship and their human rights are violated, Rohingya have long been oppressed and no one has really stood up for them.

The euphoria was obvious through their cheer and joyous faces. I didn’t want to spoil their happy mood by keeping my reservations to myself. At the rally, I met a Rohingya man who fled to Malaysia when he was one year old. Speaking very fluent Malay with a Johorean accent, he described how difficult his life was being stateless despite living here for decades and having been married to a Malaysian woman for 10 years.

This was only one person out of thousands of Rohingya and refugees who live in limbo.

A reflection for Malaysia

In case people are unaware, there are second and third generations of Rohingya who were born and bred in Malaysia, but remain stateless. Being stateless means no identity. With no identity, they are unable to work, access education and healthcare as well as vulnerable to arrest and abuse. What’s the difference between Rohingya in Malaysia and Rohingya in Myanmar then? Talk to any refugees (and migrants too), you will understand how miserable their life is.

Although Rohingya and other refugees have UN High Commissioner for Refugees or UNHCR card (only if they are registered), this does not stop them from being arrested and put in detention centres for weeks or months. Bribes need to be paid to get away from the corrupt officials. More tragically, ordinary Malaysians too rob and beat them. Without proper documents, their police reports are futile because no further action is taken.

As a human being, I feel very ashamed and angry whenever refugees tell me these things. It is ridiculous that only a document can differentiate how a person is treated. Isn’t this a hypocrisy shown by Malaysia?

It is always noble to condemn atrocities and finding durable solutions for any international conflict. However, it is equally important to reflect on ourselves too. What have we, the Malaysian government and Malaysians done to protect and defend desperate refugees who are in Malaysia?

Despite that, I am very glad that finally the Malaysian government spoke out sternly against the genocide that is taking place in Myanmar and the Rohingya community also welcomed this condemnation. Malaysian government needs to continuously put pressure on Myanmar to uphold human rights especially when over 90 percent of refugees here are from that country.

Consolidated actions need to be in place immediately to translate the ‘rhetoric’. At the same time, do not ever forget that our humanity and compassion need to be shown through better treatment for all refugees in Malaysia regardless of their race and religion.


ASLAM ABD JALIL is a Master of Public Policy student at Universiti Malaya.

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