Guan Eng: Give Penang specifics on Government's plan for Rohingya

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang is willing to cooperate with the Federal Government on the Rohingya issue, but it needs more specifics of its plan, says Lim Guan Eng (pic).

"The Penang government has said we are willing to cooperate with the federal government on national security on the Rohingya issue but we have not been informed about the specifics. They have not briefed us at all," said the Penang Chief Minister at the Parliament lobby on Monday.

He said the suggestion by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the Penang government to take in Rohingya refugees was completely new to him.

On Sunday, Ahmad Zahid said the Federal Government was challenging Penang to prove the state was the "champion of human rights it claims to be" - by giving shelter to stranded Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

Lim had asked for the migrants to be sheltered in Federal-owned land, saying that the state was lacking in space and had not been consulted by the National Security Council.

Ahmad Zahid said several locations besides Penang had been identified as temporary camps for the stranded migrants, but insisted that the DAP-led state take them in.

"We want to see the sincerity of the Penang government, led by DAP that are partners with PKR and PAS, that claims to champion human rights and is always asking the Government to adopt humanitarian policies.

"They should accept the migrants into Penang," Ahmad Zahid told reporters at the Kajang prison during the Ministry's Family Day celebration on Sunday.

Lim added that he did not know why Ahmad Zahid was questioning Penang's decision when they had already agreed to cooperate on issues of national security.

Lim pointed out that all the relevant agencies to handle the Rohingyas were federal agencies.

"The resources and powers are all with the Federal Government. I do not know what we can do when we do not have them. The Immigration Department, Army and the Navy are all under the Federal Government," he said.

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Zahid: Rohingya in Penang to be housed in Government facilities