Rescue the Rohingyans

We the citizens and residents of Malaysia, are horrified and extremely concerned for the thousands of Rohingyan and Bangladeshi people who are left vulnerable in open sea in the Straits of Malacca. We are at a loss of what we could do to help, and plead with the Malaysian Government to act with compassion on our behalf for their immediate welfare.

On 15 May 2015, Malaysia’s Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was quoted as saying: “We have to consider what our people want to see us doing.”

This year, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will convene in Kuala Lumpur for a people-centric ASEAN with the theme: "Our People, Our Community, Our Vision."

We, the citizens and residents of Malaysia and ASEAN, take these cues to state in no uncertain terms that we the people want incoming migrants who have been abandoned at sea by traffickers to be rescued and cared for by our elected Malaysian government, until a secure fate can be assured to them.

We implore the Malaysian government:

-          To immediately rescue Rohingya refugees and migrants left vulnerable out in the sea, including those turned away by the Malaysian government and others.

-          To provide them with shelter, adequate medical care, clothing, food and water.

-          To declare its commitment to the rescue and care of future refugees and vulnerable migrants who will enter Malaysia's maritime borders by reforming local laws and strengthening foreign diplomacy for their sakes.

-          To coordinate a collaborative region-wide crackdown on human trafficking in ways that will secure the safety and security of the victims while punishing the offenders.

The Rohingya people have long endured ethnic and religious persecution in their home country of Myanmar. Thousands upon thousands have since fled as refugees to neighboring Southeast Asian countries in search of security and hope. On May 14, however, the Federal Government of Malaysia deliberately refused to rescue approximately 600 Rohingya refugees who were left stranded off the coast of Penang and Langkawi. These refugees began their journey over three months ago, and their situation is now getting more critical by the hour. 10 Rohingyas have already perished and those still alive, including scores of women and children, are in great risk of suffering the same fate due to a lack of food and water. Moreover, it is estimated that thousands more Rohingyas off the coasts of Thailand and Malaysia are in the same plight.