Perhaps DPM can try 'golf diplomacy' with Myanmar

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YOURSAY 'Najib must Asean to apply pressure on Myanmar. But what has he done?'

DPM: Myanmar shouldn’t saddle us with Rohingyas

 

Prudent: It's an internal problem badly handled by Myanmar and as a result became an international problem. This is aggravated by the human slave traffickers taking advantage of a chance for quick and big profits.

 

But the root cause is the persecution of the Rohingyas by Myanmar and to a certain extent, economic mismanagement by Bangladesh.

 

Malaysia and Asean should first bust the human traffickers who have been reaping profits for a long time and, as indicated by the Thai police investigation, helped along by corrupt policemen.

 

Then the present refugees should be cared for in refugee camps until repatriation and/or transfer to third countries. Those with needed skills can even be absorbed locally.

 

Towing them back to sea is not on as it is against international law banning refoulement (the forcible return of refugees or asylum seekers).

 

Asean should then engage Myanmar and Bangladesh to deal with the root causes and work towards a long term resolution.

 

APA INI?: They are not welcome, yes, but they are human beings. Sending them back to sea is an act of inhumanity. Negotiate with Myanmar for their safe return. Meanwhile Malaysia can feed and shelter them with Asean and UNHCR co-operation and not treat them like stray animals that we chase away with a bone.

 

Lim Chong Leong: Myanmar should deal with the Rohingya community internally instead of forcing it on its Asean neighbours, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

 

Does he not know that the Rohingyas are running away from something back home like ethnic cleansing? If it could be so easily resolved internally, they would not have risked lives and limbs to escape.

 

Tailek: Maybe golf diplomacy with Myanmar's ruling generals can solve this problem. No need to send the foreign minister, send the DPM.

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Perhaps DPM can try 'golf diplomacy' with Myanmar

Busting myths on Rohingya boat people

 

Over50ABU: Where do these people get the money to go on the boat and why does this syndicate leave the boat behind with these people? The money they get from these people, is it enough to cover the cost of the boat? Who is actually arranging for this to happen? Something else is behind this.

 

Imran: Actually we are so short of maids and workers - why not just give them work permits. The Indonesians and Filipinos are playing hard to get. Here we have people who are so hard up to make a living.

 

Like someone said - they spend millions over the last year looking for a few hundred people on MH370, but they find it so difficult to spend some money to save these living souls at sea.

 

Supercession: Just give them free citizenship and increase your "vote bank".

 

Haveagreatday: The DPM is speaking essentially nothing worth noting - the fact of the matter is that the Myanmar government’s handling of the Rohingya issue is what's causing the exodus. The bottom line is that turning away desperate refugees at sea is inhumane, to say the least.

 

Anonymous_3f4b: As I have said before, the Rohingya problem has to be tackled by the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh together with the assistance of Asean, United Nations and UNHCR.

 

This is an age-old issue stemming from socio-political history decades ago and colored with sectarian, religious, and national economic and security concerns.

 

Perhaps the filthy rich Middle East Islamic countries together with the OIC can help their Muslim brethren financially and with the blessings of the United Nations, help create and sustain an autonomous region for the Rohingyas to self-rule and manage their own affairs not unlike East Timor.

 

Of course this will depend on Myanmar and Bangladesh if they will agree to carve out a piece of their territory for the autonomous region. This is where Asean comes in.

 

Or will the countries prefer to let these poor souls vanish into extinction because of their poverty, zero social political and economic clout, and pariah status?

 

Jaycee: If Myanmar had taken care of the Rohingyas, then they will not become boat people. Surely the DPM knows by now that the world is not an ideal place.

 

Wars, Isis, internal fighting, poverty, natural disasters, and corrupted governments that do not take care of their citizens, will result in the displacement of people.

 

If Malaysia does not have the funds to help these refugees, ask Jho Low for assistance; after all the commission money from 1MDB is more than enough to house these Rohingyas until a solution is found. And Jho Low is also a well-known philanthropist.

 

KSD: Myanmar is handling the problem internally. They are carrying out a silent and slow genocide on these people. That's why they are fleeing.

 

OH YA?: Mr DPM, what is the problem? What saddling are you talking about? Hasn't Umno granted millions of Filipinos citizenship for votes in Sabah that is saddling the Sabahans to the extent they can't even have a proper meal without fearing being kidnapped?

 

Yet they are Umno's fixed deposit. Why Mr DPM, can’t just accept the Rohingyas, grant them citizenship and make them Umno's fixed deposit too?

 

Worldly Wise: DPM is right. This problem must be resolved by Myanmar. They must look after all people in their land.

 

R1: Najib must rally other Asean countries to apply pressure on Myanmar. But what has he done?

 

Starwars: There are two reasons for the migration of the Rohingyas. One is due to persecution by the government of Myanmar and the other is due to syndicates operating from within Thailand and Malaysia who bring them in for a fee.

 

The Myanmar government will not stop the migration because other Asean countries readily accept those people and since other countries readily accept those people, the syndicates are thriving and they will keep on thriving as long as we accept the Rohingyas.

Once they come in, UNCHR will grant them refugee status and Malaysians will have to pay for their upkeep. The culprit here is not only the Myanmar government but also the syndicates. Human trafficking is a big business and we must put to stop to this.

 

Deny them entry. Give them food and send them back to their country of origin. The syndicates will die a natural death if we don’t accept the Rohingyas.

 

Open minded: It is a typical Catch-22 situation. On one hand it is a humanitarian crisis. On the other, we have our own internal resources to take care of and protect.

 

As it is, there is an astounding and alarming number of foreigners in this country who are everywhere you go. There has to be a point of no more and enough is enough and it is now - before we become the boat people ourselves.                    

 

Citizen No.26: In a crisis, saving lives is top priority.


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