Minister: 19 police reports filed over Rohingya refugees, four investigated

CORONAVIRUS | Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob revealed that 19 police reports have been lodged with regard to the Rohingya refugees.

“Of this, the police have opened four investigation papers,” he told a media conference in Putrajaya this afternoon.

Ismail, who is the minister in charge of the security cluster, did not furnish details and Malaysiakini has contacted the police for additional information.

Xenophobia has been rife on social media following postings on the Rohingya refugees, including unverified reports of them demanding equal rights and Malaysian citizenship.

Previously. Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation Malaysia president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Gani claimed that he had received death threats over the alleged fake postings, forcing him to close his Facebook account.

Following this, a coalition of 17 Rohingya-linked groups based in Myanmar and Malaysia distanced their community from the purported statements made by Zafar.

The coalition also apologised to the government and Malaysians in general for statements attributed to Zafar.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that the Malaysian ambassador for the European Rohingya Council Tengku Emma Zuriana Tengku Azmi had received a rape threat.

This is after the human rights activist called for a reversal of the government's pushback policy on the Rohingya refugees intercepted at sea.

Tengku Emma has lodged a report with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over the threat.

NGOs and politicians have also expressed concern and condemned the xenorphobic attacks.

Yesterday, Ismail appealed for calm and assured Malaysians that the authorities are looking into the alleged videos of the Rohingya refugees.

The minister pointed out that Malaysians have welcomed Rohingya refugees for many years with no similar concerns raised out of sympathy for the suffering they faced back in Myanmar.

"But lately during this movement control order (MCO) period, this issue suddenly blew up,” he added. - Mkini