By Mahadhir bin Monihuldin
GOMBAK, 20 April 2017: Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, on Friday (14 April), expressed his discontentment with the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmars known political leader.
Speaking at IIUM’s Humanitarian Symposium 2017 on the topic ‘Rohingya: Plight, Despair and Hope”, the former Malaysian Foreign Minister said, œI have lost total confidence in Aung San Suu Kyi. We supported her fully, but now shes been completely hesitant.
Tan Sri Syed Hamid spoke at the possible solution to humanitarian system on the topic, “Rohingya humanitarian crisis and the possible solutions to overcome it through international law”.
He said a degree of injustice was perpetrated against the Rohingya people by the Myanmar military organisation called the Tatmadaw, as well as by the Myanmar Buddhist nationalists who have caused a lot of ruckus.
œThe Rohingya is not a question of the refusal to give them citizenship. Its a question of depriving what was actually theirs all along, Tan Sri Syed Hamid said.
He was quick to point out that the Rohingya people do not have champions and are in need of grassroots support.
It was here where Tan Sri Syed Hamid expressed his stand not to rely on Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the President of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Myanmar.
Instead, Tan Sri Syed Hamid told the audience that they should continue with their research and international instruments to account for Myanmars military for their unlawful actions.
œIts of considerable importance that we work with the minorities of Myanmar and empower them as a whole, he said.
Being a former special to envoy to Myanmar for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Tan Sri Syed Hamid has a considerable amount of attachment to the people of Rohingya.
He said, œI am always very emotional when I speak about Rohingya. ***