'Inhumane to push boat people away'

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It is inhumane for the government to push back the Rohingya refugees to the open sea, Council of Churches general-secretary Hermen Shastri said today.

"This only adds to the trauma of their already life-threatening situation," Hermen said in a press statement.

Just over a week ago, a group of Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees in three boats were detained by the authorities.

Rohingyas are stateless people, with most of them fleeing from violence and persecution in Myanmar.

Their detainment had prompted a slew of notable people and organisations to call for humanitarian aid to be given to the Rohingya refugees.

Hermen ( photo ) also called for the government to show solidarity with the refugees by allowing them to land temporarily here.

Then, the government should work together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees, Hermen said.

Our Muslim brothers and sisters

These are all sentiments echoed by PAS Research Center head Dr as well as the Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru.

They both released press statements today urging the government to allow the Rohingya refugees temporary transit here.

Dzulkefly ( photo ) said the government should not keep silent on this issue as the current Asean chair and a non-permanent member of the UN security council.

As such, the government needs to take quick action to aid these refugees who are victims of human trafficking.

"Not only that, they are our Muslim brothers and sisters, and we are an examplary Islamic nation in the world," Dzulkefly said.

Steven added that these claims of human trafficking must be investigated and if true, the perpetrators must be apprehended and punished.

He also expressed that while he is glad our government is meeting with their Indonesian and Thai counterparts tomorrow to discuss this situation, it is now time for action as opposed to talk.



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