Malaysia NGOs to hold `Pray 4 Rohingya` gathering on Dec 23

Seventeen NGOs in Malaysia are coming together to organise a rally against the Myanmar government`s treatment of Rohingya Muslims at the Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam on Dec 23.

Organised under the Selangor Humanitarian Fund (SHF), the `Himpunan Peduli Ummah: Pray 4 Rohingya` gathering will start at 6pm and last until midnight.

Organising chairman Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who is also the Selangor exco for Islamic Religious Affairs, Malay Customs & Heritage, Rural & Traditional Villages Development said that SHF calls upon Malaysians to attend the gathering in solidarity for the Rohingyas.

"More gatherings and rallies should be held continuously to pressure the Myanmar government over the violence done on the Rohingyas.

"It is also to open the eyes of the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) about the real situation so that they could do something necessary.

"We call upon more NGOs to stand up and join us to make this gathering a success," he told a press conference here Friday.

Dr Ahmad Yunus said that SHF also hailed the Malaysian Government`s call for Myanmar to be suspended from Asean.

"We also urge the Government to stop or rescind investments in the country, including severing diplomatic ties with Myanmar should the oppression and violence against the Rohingyas remained unresolved.

"We call upon world leaders and all the people to push for concrete measures to end the massacre on the innocent Rohingyas, return their rights and freedom, stop all forms of discriminations and also reintegrate the refugees," he added.

The gathering, he said, will also feature prominent personalities such as Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, as the International Union of Muslim Scholars vice president, OIC special envoy to Myanmar Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and popular local celebrities.

Some of the NGOs under SHF included Yayasan Amal Malaysia, Muslim Care Malaysia, Malaysian Islamic Organisations Consultative Council (Mapim), Majlis Usahawan Nasyid Malaysia (Munsyid), Persatuan Tadika Islam Malaysia (Pertim) and Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCare).

Source: The Straits Times