The Putera 1Malaysia Club calls on Malaysians to ease plight of Rohingyas

PETALING JAYA: The Putera 1Malaysia Club is calling for contributions from Malaysians for its humanitarian mission to help the Muslim Rohingya refugees affected by sectarian violence in Myanmar.

Club president Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said the club plans to visit Bangladesh to visit about 40,000 Rohingya refugees who escaped the violence and are now staying in three camps – Kutupalong, Nayapara and Teknas.

“We are asking all Malaysians to give a helping hand to the victims, especially the elderly, the women and children there,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Riots, believed to have been triggered after 10 Rohingyas were killed following the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman in late May, erupted and a state of emergency was declared on June 10.

Some 1.6 million Rohingyas have fled the country with some 30,000 of them now in Malaysia.

Azeez said the club will pass aid to the other non-governmental organisations there if it was not safe to travel to Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State, where the Rohingyas were situated.

“We will monitor the situation there first.

“If it is really not safe, we will engage with non-governmental organisations there to pass the aid to them as long as it reaches them.

“The Rohingyas need food, medication, clean water, clothing, baby food and baby blankets.

“A five-member advance team will fly there to assess the situation and give us a report.

“The departure date is yet to be confirmed, but it may be before or after Hari Raya,” he added.

Azeez said 10 volunteers and 10 doctors have been identified to go on the mission.

Those who wish to contribute can call the club at 03-2273 6004 or 1-300-88-1113.

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