DPM: It’s Myanmar govt’s woes, not Asean

SHAH ALAM: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says the Myanmar government must take responsibility in resolving the Rohingya ethnic issue in their country.

The Deputy Prime Minister said this was necessary so that other Asean member nations were not burdened by what was Myanmar’s problem.

“What is the responsibility of the Myanmar government? Is there any humanitarian aspect for them to solve this matter internally?

“Eventually, the burden will be borne by Asean countries,” he told reporters after officiating the DRB-Hicom Tan Sri Muhyiddin (TSM) Golf Challenge here yesterday.

Muhyiddin said the Government viewed the issue with serious concern, hoping Wisma Putra would address it “wisely”.

“This is a big issue for us because it concerns national security and humanitarian issues.

“The Cabinet has discussed this issue and has decided that the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand liaise with Myanmar on it.

“We want their (Rohingya) influx to be under control before it becomes a big burden to the country as it is understood that thousands have come here (Malaysia).

“This should be the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) but it seems that their responsibility is not that effective,” he said.

In Kota Kinabalu, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Malaysia would make a diplomatic push with Thailand and Indonesia to engage Myanmar in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

He said he would meet his Thai and Indonesian counterparts to work out a collective proposal under Asean for discussion with Myanmar.

“As Asean chairman, we will discuss in depth, so that this problem will be solved. I hope Myanmar will sit with us to find solutions before we take it to an international level.

“If necessary, we will call for an emergency Asean meeting as suggested by the Prime Minister,’’ he said after meeting Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali at the 4th Joint Commission Meeting between Malaysia and Bangladesh here yesterday.

Anifah said he would meet the Indonesian Foreign Minister in Kota Kinabalu today and his Thai counterpart on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the issue.