Give chance to Myanmar gov't to improve Rohingya situation: DFM (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: The current Myanmar government under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi should be given the chance to improve the situation on the ongoing humanitarian crisis befalling the Rohingya minority there.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the current democratic government was only formed for about a year, after decades of being under the rule of military junta.
"The process is a work in progress as the democratically elected government was barely a year (since its formation)," he said.
"A reform could not be done in a day. Rome was not built in a day. To bring reform after decades of military junta's atrocities on the Rakhine state is not easy," he told Dewan Rakyat during the question and answer session.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PKR—Tumpat) who asked whether Malaysia would increase in political efforts in pressuring Suu Kyi to provide a clear commitment in assisting the Rohingya people.
Reezal Merican said the Myanmar government had taken appropriate action when there were reports of army and police brutality in the Rakhine State.
"Eight police officers were identified and three were arrested. There were actions taken by the government ... There is an attempt to bring stability on the region," he said.
He also said the security operation in northern Rakhine is halted after an announcement by the Myanmar government on Feb 15.
"The security situation in northern Rakhine has gotten stable and curfew order was loosened," he said.