SUBANG JAYA, Jan 27 — Hollywood star Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh is joining the delegation to resupply the Malaysian Field Hospital at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh as part of the government’s humanitarian aid to the displaced Rohingya community escaping conflict in Myanmar.
The delegation, led by Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Mohammed Noor, was flagged off by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Air Force Base here this morning.
“I had informed the prime minister of my intention to visit the field hospital and deliver aid to the Rohingya refugees.
“He has been supportive and accommodating in granting my request,” the Ipoh-born star, most recently seen in sci-fi TV series Star Trek: Discovery, told reporters before boarding the Airbus 400M transport aircraft earmarked for the delegation.
Yeoh is also United Nations Development Programme ambassador and urged the international community to show solidarity with the Rohingya who are mostly Muslim and have been fleeing from their homelands in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in the hundreds of thousands to neighbouring countries with accounts of brutal persecution.
“The time to act is now and I appeal to all countries to lend their support and provide aid to these suffering men, women and children whose survival depend on your generosity,” she said.
Najib, who has been campaigning for international support to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis, said part of the delegation’s task would be to decide if the field hospital in Cox’s Bazar should be extended. Its mandate expires next month.
“We will continue our efforts to seek a peaceful end to this crisis.
“We will also continue to support the refugees in the camps…to help them with humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (centre) flags off the Rohingya Humanitarian Aid Mission and special delegation to visit the Malaysian field hospital in Cox’s Bazar, at the Subang military air base January 27, 2018.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Shahidul Islam who was also present, expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s aid as the refugee crisis had put a strain on his country.
“Our country is keen on getting the Rohingya back and the support by Malaysia and other countries lent to us in coping with the influx of refugees has been crucial.
“We thank the people of Malaysia for their generosity and support and we share the ultimate goal of having the Rohingya return home with their dignity and health intact,” he said.
Also present were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and representatives from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The delegation will be airlifting 10 tonnes of medical aid, food and other supplies.
The field hospital has rendered medical aid to 3,768 patients since starting operations last November 31.
It has 100 beds with another 50 expected to be added and has been operated at a cost of RM3.5 million over three months with Malaysia contributing RM18 million worth of equipment.
It functions to provide tertiary medical assistance and general care but refers those in need of more extensive procedures and care to other hospitals.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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