Sinar Bima carrying 500 tonnes of relief items for victims of Myanmar
conflict
KELAB Putera 1Malaysia's
humanitarian aid trip to Rakhine, Myanmar, was finally flagged off when the
cargo vessel Sinar Bima left Port Klang's North Port yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin flagged off the vessel at 10.50am. It carried 500 tonnes of
food, medical supplies, medication and other relief items in 40 containers.
Muhyiddin said that as an Asean
member, Malaysia has a commitment to assist its neighbours involved in any
conflict.
"This humanitarian trip will
assist everyone regardless of whether they are Muslims or Buddhists. It's a
honourable mission and it's not an easy task," he said.
"The club has taken up the
challenge to provide assistance and support to those who need it there.
"Their initiative will send
a global message that Malaysia is always keen to help its neighbours. However,
I do believe this is just a temporary relief exercise and it will not be
permanent.
"I trust the Myanmar
government is doing its very best to find an amicable solution to the problems
there."
He urged the Malaysian aid team
to be alert at all times as the area is not stable.
Club president Datuk Abdul Azeez
Abdul Rahim, who is leading the team, said they have the Myanmar government's
support and will be protected by a military convoy.
Asked whether they are prepared
for possible violence, akin to the ill-fated Somali mission which saw the death
of Bernama TV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor in September last year, Abdul
Azeez said they have had "training".
"We are have undergone
training and we also have bullet proof vests. However, our embassy at Yangoon
said the vests are not needed. Only the military carry firearms," he said.
Abdul Azeez and the team will
depart from LCCT and land in Yangoon International Airport. From Yangoon, the
team will travel by land for about 900km till it reaches Sittwi City in Rakhine
state.
The advanced team is expected to
leave on Friday and the main team will be leaving on Monday.
The vessel will be heading for
Yangoon Harbour and from there, a tugboat will lead it to Sittwi Harbour.
About two months ago, a murderous
wave between the Buddhist Rakhine majority and the Muslim Rohingya minority
erupted in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.
The violence started after it was
reported on May 28 that a 26-year-old Buddhist woman had been raped and killed
by Muslim men. Three Muslim men were detained the following day.
The incident lit the fuse for
communal violence in the area. On June 3, about 300 Buddhists attacked a bus in
Taungup, killing 10 Muslim men, reportedly in front of policemen and soldiers
who did not intervene.
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