Syed Saddiq warns Rohingya issue could become ‘nuclear bomb’ for Malaysia

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman warned that the Rohingya refugee issue could become a "nuclear bomb" for Malaysia's political stability and moral integrity if not tackled promptly. In a debate on refugee management in the Dewan Rakyat, the MUDA president highlighted that Malaysia had a history of accepting refugees from conflicts, but the Rohingya case was different.

He pointed out that Malaysia currently hosts over 130,000 Rohingya refugees, far exceeding the few hundred in neighboring countries like Thailand and India. Syed Saddiq criticized the UNHCR and those who had agreed to use Malaysia as a temporary transit point, stating that Malaysia should not bear the burden alone. He also criticized the lack of action by Malaysia's military and maritime agencies, which he felt was indirectly encouraging human trafficking networks.

The MP proposed a zero-tolerance policy against illegal sea crossings and called for a special committee in the Dewan Rakyat to address the issue without partisan interference, aiming to reduce the refugee population to a smaller number within a decade.