Malaysia highlights Rohingya humanitarian crisis at Asean meetings

KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said today he conveyed Malaysia's serious concern over the Rohingya humanitarian crisis unfolding in Bangladesh at the 11th Asean Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and related meetings in Clark, Pampanga, in the Philippines.
He described the situation as ''one of our region's greatest humanitarian crisis''.
''We in Asean simply cannot ignore this situation as the Rohingyas and all affected communities are highly vulnerable targets, ripe for the prospect of radicalisation by extremist groups in the region,'' he said in a statement today.
The statement was issued at the conclusion of his four-day working visit to Clark for the ADMM meetings, an annual platform for Asean defence ministers to discuss regional security and defence matters of mutual concern.
Hishammuddin also cautioned against terror group Daesh's intention with regard to immigrants.

''We must never give Daesh a lifeline to recruit new fighters as the group may be looking to essentially weaponise these refugees and other vulnerable immigrant populations,'' he said.
The 11th ADMM was chaired by Philippine National Defence Secretary Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana. — Bernama