Don't hate Rohingyas as they're victims of cruelty - Dr Mahathir

Let us not hate the Rohingya people as they are victims of cruelty, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said he realised why Malays now hated the Rohingyas despite initially being sympathetic to their plight, so much so the group chose to come to Malaysia.

“But, when their numbers began to swell and there were some things they did which hurt the feelings of the Malays, then the sympathy turned to hatred,” he said.

Dr Mahathir, through his latest posting on his blog chedet.cc, said Islamic countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should take action to stop Myanmar’s cruelty against the Rohingyas.

“We should rightfully condemn Myanmar and (Myanmar State Counsellor) Aung San Suu Kyi for their cruelty and act by refusing to trade with them.

“We also need to ask the United Nations (UN) to take action against Myanmar. We need to expose Myanmar’s cruelty to the world,” he said.

Malaysia, he said, had given too much asylum to refugees and they should go to other countries and other countries should also open their doors to them.

-- BERNAMA