Malaysia will continue to voice Rohingya issue at world stage - DPM

Malaysia will continue to speak out against oppression of the ethnic Rohingya in Myanmar and it calls on the world to channel humanitarian aid to Rohingya refugees who have sought shelter in Bangladesh.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he had voiced Malaysia's views on the issue during his meeting with the Communist Party of China's Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, Meng Jianzhu.

"China stated that it has channelled, through the Bangladesh government, US$10 million worth of humanitarian aid to the Rohingya refugees being sheltered in Bangladesh," he told the Malaysian media here today, the last day of his working visit to China since Monday.

Ahmad Zahid said in view of China being a neighbouring country to Myanmar, Malaysia called on the Chinese government to play a constructive and important diplomatic role in tackling the worsening humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State, Myanmar.

On the role of Interpol, Ahmad Zahid who is also Home Minister, said Malaysia had suggested that with regard to security, Interpol assist countries that were the targets of cross-border crime and also in the area of cyber security.

He said among the assistance that could be rendered was continued training for the police forces in developing countries which transborder criminals could easily sneaked into.

"This also includes raising the capacity to counter the tactics of transnational criminals through biometrics information and big data sharing which the countries concerned should have."

Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia also wanted Interpol, which had the functions of providing cooperation in the area of cyber security and assistance in combating various transborder crimes, to continue playing an important role as a major world organisation.

He regards Interpol, which has 158 member states with some 12 million police personnel, as the second biggest entity after the United Nations.

"The UN has its General Assembly and so does Interpol, attended by the national police chiefs of the respective countries each year and by their home ministers every two years," he said.

On another development, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia would improve on the capacity of its scanning machines for more effective detection of smuggled items such as drugs and firearms at all its entry points, by using technology from China.

"This scanner is the most sophisticated in the world...it can effectively scan goods in the containers or items in vehicles including drugs," he said.

The deputy prime minister said China had in principle agreed to supply this technology to Malaysia.

Also present at the news conference were Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun and the Malaysian ambassador to China, Datuk Zainuddin Yahya.

Ahmad Zahid, who was on his working visit here to attend the 86th Interpol General Assembly, departed for Kuala Lumpur at noon today.

-- BERNAMA