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Najib denounces Myanmar govt over treatment of Rohingyas

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak led a protest on Sunday (Dec 4) against what he called a “genocide” of Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority, as he urged Asian neighbours and the world to step up the pressure to stop the violence.

Malaysian PM Najib Razak (C) speaks to the crowd during a protest against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar at a stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec 4, 2016. Photo: AP

Malaysian PM Najib Razak (C) speaks to the crowd during a protest against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar at a stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec 4, 2016. Photo: AP

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KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak led a protest on Sunday (Dec 4) against what he called a “genocide” of Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority, as he urged Asian neighbours and the world to step up the pressure to stop the violence.

Denouncing Myanmar over its crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in north-western Rakhine state,

Mr Najib said the rally will send a strong message to Ms Aung San Suu Kyi’s government that “enough is enough”.

“UN (United Nations) please do something. The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking place,” he said to loud cheers from some 5,000 Muslims, including Rohingya refugees. The world cannot say it is not our problem. It is our problem.”

The rally was attended by leaders of Mr Najib’s ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), in what is seen as increasingly warming ties between the two previous political foes.

The plight of Rohingya in predominantly-Buddhist Myanmar has galvanised Muslims in South-east Asia and beyond.

Last week, angry Muslims protestors in Malaysia and Indonesia took to the streets to condemn Myanmar over its crackdown in Rakhine that saw more than 10,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh in recent weeks.

The crackdown also sparked allegations of rape and violence from the military.

The Myanmar government and military have denied the accusations, saying troops are defending the country from an armed insurgency.

Mr Zaw Htay, spokesman of the Myanmar President’s Office, last week criticised Mr Najib’s decision to attend Sunday’s rally, citing the Association of South-east Asian Nations’ (Asean) long-standing policy of non-interference into each other’s affairs.

“We have always followed and respected (these) principles. We hope that the Malaysian government will continue” to follow them, he told The Myanmar Times.

However, Mr Najib said on Sunday the persecution of the Rohingya is an insult on Islam. “I will not close my eyes and shut my mouth. We must defend them (Rohingya) not just because they are of the same faith but they are humans, their lives have values,” he said.

He expressed disappointment at Ms Suu Kyi, who is a Nobel laureate, for declining to meet with Malaysia to discuss the issue.

“What is the meaning of winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the prize that is given for standing up for human rights?,” he asked.

Analysts said on Sunday the issue is a convenient smokescreen for Mr Najib, who has been criticised for financial irregularities in state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Both he and the fund deny any wrongdoing.

Mr James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, told AFP that with a general election due by 2018, Mr Najib “is there (at the rally) to boost his standing as an Islamic leader”. AGENCIES

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