Protection centre in Padang Besar to hold Rohingya

Source Therakyatpost, 8 June

 By: Michael Murty

Padang Besar Member of Parliament Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin says talks are ongoing to transfer power to handle Rohingya refugees to the National Security Council. – Reuters/Antara Foto pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8, 2015:

According to Padang Besar Member of Parliament Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, the issue of Rohingya entering the country should be handled by National Security Council (MKN) and not the Home Ministry.

He said there were ongoing talks on transfer of power so the matter could be handled better and there were plans by MKN to build a protection centre in his constituency to deal with the refugees from Myanmar.

"When these people enter the country, we can hold them there. This place can act as a holding centre for them," he told The Rakyat Post when met in Parliament.

He said the next thing Malaysia must do is pressure Myanmar to stop persecuting the Rohingya in their country.

"We must do this through Asean and OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) and pressure the country to stop persecuting the group.

"If this is not done, the persecution against them will not stop."

When asked if there were any leads from pathology reports on the remains taken from Bukit Wang Burma, near Kampung Wang Kelian, in Perlis, he said "not yet".

However, he was not ruling out the rumoured organ trade activity that might have taken place.

"We suspected that as well. Some doctors have even indicated that the bodies were infected with H1N1 and other diseases."

Talking about working together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he said it was true that UNHCR had come to speak to the government many times, but it was to ask for the right for these Rohingyas to work in the country.

"The government is still mulling this matter as well as other solutions.

"We are hoping UNHCR will play a role as a body from the United Nations (UN) to figure out ways to stop the Rohingya from fleeing the country.

"We hope to work closely with UNHCR to pressure Myanmar to stop persecuting these people."

He said after the UNHCR gives these people cards, it often washes its hands off them and the government has then to step in.

"They should help them in terms of food and shelter."

He said he would meet with a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as Malaysian Rohingya groups next week to discuss methods to obtain funds for Rohingyas.

"We will meet and figure out ways to get these people recognised as people of Arakan, Myanmar."