Putrajaya has been urged to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar should the country fail to stop state sanctioned violence against its ethnic Rohingya community.

The call was made by 12 NGOs today, including Gabungan Persatuan Pendidikan Islam Malaysia (Gapim) and Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation (Merhrom).

 Spokesperson Tengku Emma Zuriana told a press conference today that 160,000 Rohingya people have been affected by Myanmar military action of late.

"(The proposal) was recommended (by us) to pressure the Myanmar government to take action.

"But when we feel we have reached the point for a need for it, we will meet with the relevant authorities (to see these sanctions through)," said Tengku Emma today.

The coalition also said Myanmar should be threatened with isolation from other countries in the region.

However, Malaysiakini has gathered that Putrajaya has yet to give these sanctions the green light.

Myanmar officials have blamed Rohingya insurgents for the burning of homes and civilian deaths, but rights monitors and Rohingya refugees claim the killings in Rakhine state are part of a campaign to force them out.

Over 1,000 ethnic Rohingya marched towards the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur last week in protest against the atrocities. However, the protest was deemed illegal and 44 were arrested.

Tengku Emma, who is Yayasan Salam Rohingya chairperson, also reiterated Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai's condemnation of de facto Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for failing to recognise the Rohingya.

Amanah Youth last week said they were "utterly displeased" with Suu Kyi for not recognising the Rohingyas, which Tengku Emma reiterated today. 

The coalition also strongly condemns any brutality that is being inflicted on the Rohingyas and other ethnic groups in Rakhine, and urges Suu Kyi's government to stop all military advancements in the area and return the rights of citizenships to the Rohingyas. 

"We hope that Suu Kyi, a long-time supporter of democracy and a Nobel Peace Prize holder, will change the status quo and develop Myanmar on the principles of fairness, peace and togetherness," she said.