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...