Sadly Malaysia’s prime minister, Najib Razak, has said nothing new. He has merely reiterated what human rights activists, political analysts and academics have been putting forward, by finally saying ASEAN needs to work together to solve the Rohingya issue.
And even then, instead of being stern and decisive as the ASEAN chair, Najib says he hopes that the Burmese government will not consider this as interfering with domestic matters but look at it as to avoid human tragedy of gargantuan proportion.
I welcome the fact that Najib has finally found the time to respond to an impending humanitarian disaster.
But getting the rogue-state, Myanmar, onto the negotiation table will take time. ASEAN, getting its head wrapped around the Rohingya issue and finding a workable solution, is a long process.
But people are dying at sea. The Rohingya are reportedly drinking their own urine. They have run out of food supply and water. They are diseased and at the risk of developing hypothermia.
While Najib has the time to wait around for Myanmar to decide how it’s going to respond to an ASEAN solution to the Rohingya problem, the men, women, children and old people on rickety boats face imminent death as the clock ticks.
Mr Prime Minister, your people have spoken. They have sent a clear message by organizing and mobilizing aid collection for the Rohingya, defying Putrajaya’s stand to turn back the refugees to sea.
As a person and head of state, what are you going to do for the Rohingya who are adrift at sea?
What are you going to do for the Rohingya, whose bodies may wash against our shores, if they are not rescued now?