Rohingya: DPM waiting for Wisma Putra report on latest developments

Ahmad Zahid who is also Home Minister, said he would be discussing the Rohingya issue with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for further action.

"We will undertake humanitarian efforts and diplomatic action based on advice given by Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry)," he told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house held at his official residence, Sri Satria, here, today.

He was asked to comment on media reports that Myanmar was preventing the entry of United Nations investigators to probe into claims of killing, rape and torture of Muslim Rohingya by Myanmar's security forces.

On another matter, Ahmad Zahid viewed Malaysia's better ranking in the Human Trafficking Report 2017 issued by the US State Department recently, as proof of the Malaysian government's seriousness in tackling the human trafficking issue.

"Malaysia was placed at Level 3 in the ranking for the last five years.....but after taking some drastic measures, it is now at Level 2," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the rise in ranking was the result of cooperation between seven ministries, 10 relevant government departments and agencies, as well as 13 non-governmental organisations in combating the scourge of modern slavery, through eight meetings chaired by him.

"This is part of our efforts to uplift Malaysia's image in the eyes of the world and such a recognition should be attained," he said.

He noted that during the then United States president Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia (in April, 2014) , the latter had set seven conditions to give Malaysia the opportunity to be included in the US Visa Waiver Programme.

Ahmad Zahid said the conditions were met by the Malaysian government including reducing the visa application rejection rate to less than three per cent, perusing of list of suspects given by Interpol and sharing of information on terrorism, while Malaysia's position improved in terms of tackling smuggling of migrants and security maintenance.