KUALA LUMPUR; Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief (MAHAR) has welcomed the apology issued by 40 Rohingya non-governmental organisations (NGOs), describing it as a positive display of responsibility, while urging the groups to broaden their humanitarian efforts.
In a statement, MAHAR said humanitarian work should go beyond the provision of food and shelter to include educating refugees on their responsibilities while living in Malaysia.
The non-profit organisation said the NGOs should play a greater role in fostering respect among refugees for Malaysian laws, culture, customs and societal values to promote better rapport with local communities.
MAHAR also urged the organisations to intensify international advocacy efforts aimed at ending the persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar, saying lasting humanitarian work should address the root causes of the crisis.
Meanwhile, MAHAR President, Jismi Johari, said humanitarian work must also consider the safety of both refugees and host communities.
He said concerns raised by some Malaysians over local safety issues should not be dismissed, particularly concerns raised by those directly affected by incidents involving individuals within any community.
At the same time, Jismi stressed that it would be unjust to generalise an entire community based on the actions of a few individuals, noting that misconduct exists in every society.
He said addressing such concerns requires empathy, mutual respect, and constructive engagement from all stakeholders.
MAHAR reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian work grounded in justice, safety, and human dignity for both refugees and Malaysians. – BERNAMA
