Staff Correspondent, Dhaka – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed concern over the heavy burden Bangladesh faces in hosting a vast number of forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
“On regional issues, we are deeply concerned about the strain on Bangladesh in accommodating such a large Rohingya population,” Anwar said during a joint press conference with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Putrajaya on Tuesday.
The Malaysian leader emphasized that ensuring peace in Myanmar remains a top priority, alongside urgent humanitarian aid for refugees and victims of natural disasters, including earthquakes.
He praised Bangladesh for its proactive role in multilateral forums to resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s foreign minister will lead a delegation—including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand—to Myanmar in the coming weeks to push for peace and seek an amicable resolution to the violence against ethnic minorities and the Myanmar people.
Bangladesh has been hosting more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims after they fled persecution in the Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Of them, more than 800,000 crossed the border after a military crackdown in August 2017.
The persecuted Muslims are living in squalid camps in the south-eastern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar and on an offshore island called Bhasanchar in the Bay of Bengal.
Reflecting on Malaysia’s long-standing relationship with Bangladesh, Anwar highlighted Bangladesh as a key partner, acknowledging the contributions of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia’s development.
To support them, Malaysia has introduced a Multiple-Entry-Visa facility, allowing Bangladeshi workers to reunite with their families and work with greater security.
“We have prioritized your proposals, particularly to assist stranded workers,” Anwar said.
He also noted ongoing energy cooperation with Petronas and telecommunications collaboration with Axiata, with plans to expand partnerships into Halal industries, STEM, research, and semiconductors.
