PETALING JAYA, May 17 — Humanitarian groups are stepping up efforts to aid the Rohingya migrant situation in Langkawi.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Muslim Organisations (Mapim) president Azmi Abdul Hamid said a relief centre was set up on the island last week.
“We have deployed a team to assist police and immigration officers with the migrants, in the form of food and medical aid. Women and children are the priority, then the men,” he said.
“Our sources in Thailand say five more boats may be headed to Malaysia, ferrying about 8,000 people. The detention centres are overcrowded, but we are doing our best to improve the situation,” he added.
Mercy Malaysia president Dr Ahmad Faisal said they were working with the authorities to iron out political and diplomatic processes to facilitate aid efforts.
“We urge the governments of the nations involved to assist and allow access to those detained and those who will be arriving. We hope they will assist in the political and diplomatic processes needed in delivering aid,” he said.
Malaysians for Malaysia representative Azrul Mohd Khalib said arrangements were being made to ease the situation in Langkawi.
“We are working with police and the Immigration Department to deliver supplies as non-governmental organisations there say levels are running low. Another priority is to locate and assist those still at sea,” said Azrul.
Social activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi, who is part of the Rakyat4Rakyat movement in collaboration the Food Aid Foundation, said they too would help.
“We are accepting money to buy food products and life jackets. We are planning how to deliver aid,” he said.
Malay Mail Online reported that several Malaysians had started online petitions to save the thousands of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis stranded at sea.
