A coalition of some 500 Malay-Muslim NGOs has urged Buddhist monks in Malaysia to state their stand on a demonstration held by their counterparts in Myanmar last Saturday against prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s alleged interference in the Rohingya issue.

Sekretariat Umat chairperson Aminuddin Yahaya said this was made as killings of innocent people also went against Buddhism teachings.

“We want the monks in Malaysia to come forward and state their stand on (actions of) their counterparts there (in Myanmar), whether the act of killing another person is not a sin.

“The action (killings) clearly goes against the teachings of Buddha,” Aminuddin told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

On Saturday, a group of some 30 monks had reportedly protested outside the Malaysian embassy in Myanmar and chanted slogans against Najib for allegedly interfering in Myanmar’s affairs.

They held up banners which read, “Condemnation of Malaysia prime minister, don’t pressure Myanmar government”.

Commenting further, Aminuddin also expressed regret over the Buddhist monks' protest.

“We are shocked and disappointed how followers of the religion who are seen as preachers for teachings of Buddha could be involved in this issue of killings,” he stressed.

The Buddhist monks' protest came a day after AFP reported Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s planned participation in a Rohingya solidarity protest in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Wisma Putra, however, had defended the protest and stressed that what was unfolding in Myanmar was a humanitarian issue that had also become a security issue for Malaysia.

Following the backlash, The Myanmar Times today reported that Malaysia's Armed Forces chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin is reportedly in the country to repair ties through meetings with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The Myanmar government is facing growing international protest following reports that the killings of ethnic Rohingyas in the country had intensified.