Amanah leader: Malaysia's abstention on Uyghur vote 'shameful'

Malaysia's abstention from the vote on the plight of the Uyghur community in Xinjiang, China was "hurtful" and "shameful", said Terengganu Pakatan Harapan head Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad.

He pointed out that Malaysia had once sheltered Uyghur asylum seekers from China but now appears to not care for the community's wellbeing.

"Why is Malaysia no longer concerned about the Uyghur minority who are facing persecution and suffering? Do trade and business take precedence over the suffering of fellow Muslims caused by a major power?

"Malaysia, which is supposed to have a Muslim government, appears to be forsaking the plights of fellow Muslims and favouring business interests with China, the US and Israel," Raja Kamarul Bahrin said in a statement today.

The Amanah leader warned that Malaysia will no longer be relevant on the global stage or among Muslim nations if the country maintains its silence.

Malaysia was among 11 countries which abstained during a vote at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday on a proposal to debate China's treatment of the Uyghur minority.

The proposal was eventually defeated 19 to 17. Somalia was the only Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member to vote in favour.

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The Western-backed proposal was widely considered to be "mild" - it called for a debate with no consistent monitoring mechanism nor did it call for the creation of an investigation team or the appointment of a special rapporteur.

Raja Kamarul Bahrin alleged that Malaysia was increasingly taking a back seat in the persecution of Muslims in other countries, including Palestine.

"(In April) when the Al-Aqsa Mosque was violated by Israel, Malaysia was taking part in and promoting the Dubai Expo alongside Israel and the US when Palestine withdrew.

"What is the position of the prime minister? What is the position of the minister in charge of Islam and the special envoy to the Middle East?

"Will the Malaysian government condone cruelty on Muslims without seeking any investigations?" he said.

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