Severing diplomatic ties with Myanmar not a wise move at this time - Syed Hamid

The proposal by certain quarters for Malaysia to severe diplomatic relations with Myanmar in protest of the genocide against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar is not an apt move at this time, says OIC special envoy to Myanmar, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Syed Albar.

He said Malaysia should instead call the Myanmar high commissioner here to discuss on measures that could be taken to end the oppression and violence against the Rohingya Muslims.

He also suggested that a special ASEAN-level meeting be held to obtain the report and explanations from the Myanmar government on the violent attacks which he regarded as genocide.

"I do not see cutting off diplomatic relations (with Myanmar) as the solution. We want the discussion door to remain open and we need this diplomatic relations to resolve the issue through discussion and dialogue.

"But at the same time, we need to demand Myanmar to stop the violent attacks against the Rohingya Muslims. It is not in Buddhist teachings to oppress the innocent but what's happening is really inhumane," said the former foreign minister when contacted by Bernama today.

Syed Hamid said the Myanmar military's attacks on Rohingya villages in Rakhine since Nov 12 had so far resulted in 428 deaths, 1,780 houses burned down and 35,000 people becoming refugees.

He said the Myanmar government under the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi must stop the carnage by its military which had aroused anger among the international community, more so when the country was moving towards democracy.

"There should be immediate action against this hatred (towards the Rohingya Muslims) which is akin to the Rwandan genocide (in Africa). Malaysia and other OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) countries in ASEAN should act together to resolve this issue.

"We have no intention to interfere, but if we allow this carnage to go on, it's not the answer. We need to act collectively," he said.

Asked if the ASEAN countries should open their doors and accept the entry of Rohingya refugees, he said it should be for providing temporary shelter to them.

"However, the Myanmar government is responsible for this as they are the cause of the problem. Surely we should not be keep silent and say this is Myanmar's problem. We will intervene when there are human rights violations," he said.

In KOTA BHARU, Kelantan UMNO information chief Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad said economic sanctions should be immediately imposed on Myanmar as a mark of protest by the international community against the ethnic Rohingya genocide in that country.

He said international bodies like the United Nations, OIC and ASEAN must not keep silent on the atrocities as it involved humanity.

"Why is it when it comes to a nuclear issue, people speak stridently against it?" he said to reporters.

Md Alwi said the Malaysian government should act through its voice in ASEAN and the OIC by demanding that Myanmar end the atrocities against the Rohingyas.

"As Muslims, we cannot allow this to continue while people of other religions should also not allow this to go on as it's not a religious issue but involves human rights violations," he added. --Bernama