Receiving Rohingya refugees could open floodgates, warns Tok Mat
CORONAVIRUS | Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has said that receiving Rohingya refugees amid the Covid-19 pandemic could open the floodgates for more vessels carrying refugees to encroach Malaysian waters.
“The number of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia is estimated to be around 150,000.
CORONAVIRUS | Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has said that receiving Rohingya refugees amid the Covid-19 pandemic could open the floodgates for more vessels carrying refugees to encroach Malaysian waters.
“The number of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia is estimated to be around 150,000.
"Receiving the Rohingya at a time like this could open the floodgates for more foreign nationals and vessels to approach Malaysian borders and, therefore, hinder the government's efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic," Mohamad said in a statement yesterday as reported by The Star.
“Malaysia has, before the incident, enforced a movement control order (MCO) which, among others, prohibits foreign nationals and vessels from entering the country."
Mohamad, who is also known as Tok Mat, said Malaysia has far exceeded its capacity to host refugees with some areas becoming too concentrated with them.
On April 16, the Malaysian authorities prevented 200 Rohingya in a boat from entering the country illegally.
They were detected 70 nautical miles west of Langkawi.
The crew of the Royal Malaysian Navy ship KD Lekiu had distributed food to them before escorting their boat out of Malaysian waters.
Focusing on the solution, Mohamad said Asean must start engaging Myanmar to enable Rohingya refugees to return and live peacefully in the Rakhine state.
“This situation will persist and the Rohingya will continue to be in limbo as long as the core of the problem is not addressed,” he said.
Malaysia' action has received a backlash from human rights' bodies.
Amnesty International, among others, had said the battle against Covid-19 is no excuse for regional governments to let their seas become graveyards for Rohingya refugees.
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