Saudi Arabia, UAE agree to join Malaysia to help Rohingya refugees

KLUANG: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to cooperate with Malaysia to help the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (pix) said this was stated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al-Nahyan recently.

"During my visit to Morocco, I had contacted the two crown princes and they agreed to join us (Malaysia) to help the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

"The UAE and Saudi Arabia have agreed to channel donations and medicines to Hospital Medan Malaysia at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh and God-willing, in the near future we will see the three flags of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE fly in Bangladesh," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the handover ceremony of a school van and mock cheque for bus fare subsidy for students of Ladang Landak in Paloh near here today.

Hishammuddin, who is also Special Functions Minister and Sembrong MP said it was not easy for three countries to galvanise efforts to help the Rohingya, but it could help to enhance the image of an Islamic state that had long been regarded as extremist, backward and fighting among themselves.

"An agreement has been reached. We hope to have the three flags raised during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's visit to the refugee camp, which is expected to be this month," he said.

Meanwhile, on his visit to Morocco from Dec 22-24 last year, he noted the country was seen as a gateway to Malaysia in building relations with new countries because Morocco was located between Europe, West Asia and Africa.

He said relations with Morocco would also help Malaysia improve intelligence and military in combating terrorism. — Bernama