Najib: Rohingya crisis needs to be tackled at its source

KUALA LUMPUR: It is unfair for Malaysia to be on the receiving end in the conflict between the Myanmar government and the Rohingya minority, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said.
While asserting that the government would continue its fight for the Rohingya cause, he said the conflict - which had killed thousands and displaced many others - need to be tackled at its source.
"Malaysia has always been upholding the principle of the sanctity of life, but at the same time we cannot be hosting so many people (Rohingya refugees) in this country," he said.
"It is very unfair for the affected parties to inflict more cause for Malaysia to manage and recieve these people whereby they should be allowed the fundamental and universal rights which have been denied to them," he told a press conference after chairing the BN supreme council meeting at Menara Dato Onn.
A recent offensive by the Myanmar authorities in the troubled Rakhine state had reportedly killed more than 400 people, raising questions of a possible movement of Rohingya refugees into the country.
Malaysia has always taken a strong stand against the purported oppression by Myanmar authorities against the Rohingya minority there, with Najib himself leading a movement last year in protest against the violence.
There are about 40,000 displaced Rohingyas living in Malaysia.
Najib said the government would be monitoring and managing the crisis in Myanmar on a humanitarian basis, rather than a religion-driven issue.
He added the government would consider its future course of action through the international stage, whether through Asean, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation or the United Nations.
Najib said a humanitarian mission, which will be launched by him tomorrow, would provide the necessary assistance to the Rohingya refugees that had fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.
"We have already received the approval from the Bangladesh government to conduct the mission," he added.