KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Several Malaysians have kickstarted online petitions to save the thousands of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladesh natives currently stranded at sea, hoping that public pressure on the federal government and its Asean counterparts will resolve the migrant crisis.

Although Malaysia has vowed to turn away all seaworthy refugee-laden vessels, many citizens here want their government to show compassion to the foreigners, all of whom had left their homes months ago to flee persecution or poverty.

At least two online petitions have been spotted on separate sites, both pleading for humanitarian aid and rescue for the stranded migrants.

File picture shows a child, believed to be Rohingya, eating inside a shelter after he was rescued along with hundreds of others from boats in Lhoksukon, Indonesia's Aceh Province May 12, 2015. — Reuters pic

Twenty-two-year old law student Tan Zhong Yan started his petition on Change.org on Thursday after reading news that Malaysia and Indonesia were turning boatful of refugees away.

He said when he read comments by readers who agreed that it was the right thing to do, the indignation he felt prompted him to write the article entitled “Refugees are human beings!“, that was published by Malay Mail Online.

“But I felt that is not enough. I should do more. That’s how I started the online petition yesterday (Thursday) hoping to raise awareness and put some pressure on the governments and Asean, if that is going to work.

“I really don’t know if it will work and change anything but at least by doing that I can tell myself that I have tried my best,” he said when contacted by Malay Mail Online yesterday.

Tan’s petition, which is addressed to Putrajaya, Asean secretary-general Le Luong Minh and all Asean member states petition has so far gained 797 signatures since it was posted.

Another petition by Debbie YM Loh and Philip Teh on thepetitionsite.com is looking for 10,000 signatures to pressure the Malaysian government into rescuing the stranded migrants.

The petition entitled “Rescue the Rohingyans” lists four key demands, including a call on the administration to provide the migrants with “shelter, adequate medical care, clothing, food and water”.

“We implore the Malaysian government 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,” the petition says.

It also calls for a reform of local laws to care for future refugees entering Malaysia’s maritime borders as well as coordinate a pushback on human trafficking in the region that will punish the offenders and secure the safety of the refugees.

Their petition has garnered 4,017 signatures so far.

An estimated 6,000 to 20,000 migrants fleeing ethnic persecution in Myanmar and poverty in Bangladesh are currently adrift in the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca, after having been abandoned by their traffickers with little food or water.

The United Nations has labelled the situation a massive humanitarian disaster.

Reports from foreign media crews that have caught up with the packed vessels say the migrants are starving and desperate for help, having gone with very little food and water over the months they have been at sea.

Most were thought to be headed here, but after more than 1,000 migrants came ashore in Malaysia and Indonesia in the past week, both countries have declared their intention to turn away any more boats carrying fleeing Myanmar and Bangladesh natives.

Earlier, Malay Mail Online reported that several social activists have begun efforts to gather supplies to distribute to the refugees adrift at sea.

The groups have already mobilised collection of food items and medical supplies, and are now working on securing the necessary clearance from the authorities to deliver the aid, either by boat or helicopter.

Among the activists involved are Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday that “necessary actions” are being taken over for the refugees that was of international and regional importance.

It is however unclear if these steps include allowing the boats to dock, which Putrajaya previously said it would not permit.