Malaysia sends first aid ship to Rohingya Muslims

By P. Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia has sent its first ship carrying 2,300 tons of humanitarian goods to Rakhine state in Myanmar to help the persecuted minority Rohingya Muslim community.

Prime Minister Najib Razak in Klang Port attended the send-off of the aid consisting of food, medical and other basic necessities near the capital Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The mission has been organized by the 1Malaysia Club and the Malaysia Islamic Organizations Consultative Council with the cooperation of Turkiye Diyanet Vakfi Foundation, which is supported by the Turkish government.

Besides Malaysia, nine other countries have contributed to the mission, including France, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Germany, the U.S. Bangladesh.

Speaking at the event, Razak said the mission is a testament to the unity of Muslim community when it comes to of humanitarianism.

"We the Muslims, can no longer bear our Rohingya brothers and sisters being tortured, raped, burnt alive and killed," he said.

"The flotilla flagging off is a very historic event for Malaysia, to be able to lead such a noble humanitarian effort."

Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, who is leading the Food Flotilla for Myanmar mission, told reporters the vessel was expected to reach Yangon in five to six days, depending on weather conditions.

Abdul Rahim said the aid will be handed over to Myanmar's Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Win Myat Aye on arrival at Yangon, after which it will be supplied to the Rohingya community.

The ship will sail to Teknaf, Bangladesh, after unloading in Yangon on the same day to provide aid to Rohingya refugees in that country, Rahim said.

"We are going a team of 230 volunteers and activists from various non-governmental organizations are part of the mission," he added.