Thursday 9 February 2017

Food flotilla, Azeez and Anifah

A friend called last night and requested for me to write about the Food Flotilla for Rohingya, which is the brainchild of Umno's DS Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

"Annie, you write la sikit apa pasal that ship Bangladesh tak bagi landing dia orang punya port. I'm also wondering about something. From what I know, you all Muslims should not let your left hand knows that your right hand is doing a good deed. Why so much funfare for this one?" my friend said.


Well, as far as I'm concerned, Azeez is quite an irritating ass.

But that's me. You all may like him and his showy ways.

Really, what my friend said is actually true. I think that if you want to do good, you don't show it off like that. That makes it too obvious that you are not sincere and only doing it because you want to score some brownie points.

Heck, even if you are doing it for your own sake, be subtle la, for God's sake.

Okay, maybe others can argue that Azeez was really sincere, and that he was just like that because he can't help himself. Just look at the way his name was spelt.

Fine. Who am I to judge him in the first place.

Still, I think the guy should moderate his eagerness over such things.

As for why the ship was not allowed to dock at the Bangladeshi port, I saw this story last night which explains it,

Conditions at Bangladeshi port prevents Food Flotilla to dock


excerpt :

In a statement issued here today, the Foreign Ministry said the Bangladeshi government’s action was based on the fact that the Teknaf Port was shallow, with a depth of only three metres while the ship needed a depth of at least eight metres to move without hindrance to the port.

Seriously, can't they check first whether the ship can dock there before setting sail?

I can't help telling myself "There goes Anifah saving these jokers again".

Actually it's true. I heard Foreign Minister DS Anifah Aman had to call up his buddies in Bangladesh and Myanmar to settle the problem.


Anifah is one of those ministers whom I'm cool with.

The guy is good at what he's doing.

He doesn't do empty rhetorics and I have not known him bullshitting people.

Contrary to the belief of anti-government people, Malaysia with Anifah playing a key role was actually instrumental in the first real effort to help the Rohingya. I highlighted that in this post in May 2015,

Maybe Anifah is more humane than Aung San Suu Kyi


Really, Malaysia is doing its best for those poor people since back then.

Yes, there had been some miscommunications about the Rohingya refugees issue, but in actual fact, we never really turned them back to die at sea.

There are so many of them here already.

Out of the about 150,000 refugees in Malaysia, 55,000 of them are Rohingyas.

Based on that, Malaysia is perhaps among the most compassionate countries in the world.

Some of you all may not like it too much that those people are here, but what to do, we are just like that in this country.

41 comments:



  1. "Yes, there had been some miscommunications about the Rohingya refugees issue, but in actual fact, we never really turned them back to die at sea."

    Yes, we did.

    https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/05/14/malaysia-turns-away-two-boatloads-of-rohingya-and-bangladeshi-migrants.html

    LANGKAWI, Malaysia — Thousands of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis abandoned at sea by human traffickers had nowhere to go Thursday, as Malaysia turned away two boats crammed with migrants.

    “What do you expect us to do?” Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Jafaar said. “We have been very nice to the people who broke into our border. We have treated them humanely but they cannot be flooding our shores like this.”

    “We have to send the right message that they are not welcome here,” he told The Associated Press.

    From CNN:

    (CNN) A top Malaysian official says the surge of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh seeking asylum in his country and neighboring Indonesia in recent days is unwelcome -- and his government will turn back any illegal arrivals.
    "We cannot welcome them here," Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar told CNN by phone.

    Malaysia is processing more than 1,000 recently arrived migrants, with the aim of sending them home, said Wan Junaidi Jaafar.
    He said the 1,058 new arrivals on Langkawi Island had been transferred to another state, and were in the process of being repatriated.

    "The policy is to send them back," he said.
    "They come with the culture and come with diseases and lots of social problems. Do you realize Malaysia has been free of TB and many kinds of diseases, and these people are bringing many of this together?"


    Also:

    Pendatang Bangladesh akan dihantar pulang - Wan Junaidi
    Selanjutnya di : http://www.bharian.com.my/node/55845


    Malaysia tells thousands of Rohingya refugees to 'go back to your country:

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/13/malaysia-tells-thousands-of-rohingya-refugees-to-go-back-to-your-country


    Najib's silence on Rohingya tragedy damning:
    http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/298439

    So, global coverage and right from the horse’s mouth.

    Simple truth?

    Najis al-Songlap is looking for cheap, quick ways to look more “Islamic” before GE14.

    That’s all.

    Don’t whack Azeez, his boss is also after brown(nose) points.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's why I said there were miscommunications in the past. Those Rohingya refugees at that time were actually assisted by our navy when they were stuck at sea and finally allowed to land here and in Indonesia after it was agreed that Malaysia should not be the only one being burdened by the refugee problem. I know that Anifah played a big role on that one. Do you ever wonder why they mostly come here instead to nearer destinations like Thailand, Indonesia or India? That's because they know we Malaysians have a good heart and can't allow them to die at sea. That's why there are so many of them here.

      Delete
    2. And I think we should really keep politics out of this. Even if you hate Najib so much, why can't you just let him be if he wants to help the Rohingyas? Those poor people need all the help that they can get. I don't think it really matters who are the ones who want to help them.

      Delete

    3. Malaysia mamang manyak lembik hati maa aa , Lohinga kasi masuk ,Bangla kasi masuk, Indon kasi masuk ,Philipino kasi masuk ,Cina kasi masuk ,India kasi masuk.

      Hai...yaa !,Wa tak tau lagi lea aa ,apa lagi mau masuk.

      Wa manyak ingat itu nanti lama eaa aa Bulayu kena kasi keluar maa aa .

      Delete
    4. "Those Rohingya refugees at that time were actually assisted by our navy when they were stuck at sea and finally allowed to land here and in Indonesia after it was agreed that Malaysia should not be the only one being burdened by the refugee problem."

      Let’s aim for factual accuracy.

      As an ex-journalist, maybe you can understand?

      Again, if you bother to read the reports (I can give you another dozen), they were sent back the way they came. All Malaysia did was give them some food and petrol, then they were told to sail back. Please study the news reports carefully.

      "Do you ever wonder why they mostly come here instead to nearer destinations like Thailand, Indonesia or India?"

      The Rohingya were trying to land in both Thailand and Indonesia as well, all at the same time.

      As for Anifah, look up reports around week of May 20, 2015 onwards. He was later sent to do "damage control" (a.k.a. flip-flop) after Wan Junaidi's gaffe and said that there would be a TEMPORARY effort to permit some to land, on condition they were sent back within a year. Indonesia and Thailand also in the end allowed that. That didn't save the first batch turned away from Malaysia in the weeks before. They were long gone from our shores.

      The Burmese govt has been beating the living shit out of the Rohingyas since 2012 at least. Globally reported. Not a word from Pinklips Crook, just as you will not hear a word from him about the Muslim ban by Trump, because Pinklips needs to kiss Trump’s ass so that the DOJ action is dropped.

      It’s called “Opportunism”.

      Yes, Azeez is an Opportunist, but so is his chief dedak-scatterer.

      Delete
    5. But the DOJ is moving ahead.

      Jho Low's jet (actually ours lah, we paid for it!) is impounded in Singapore.

      Delete
    6. First, I'm not an ex-journalist. Second, you don't know much about this issue except what were reported at that time. Those are not necessarily facts. Third, in my opinion you are as bad as the supposedly opportunists as you don't really care about the oppressed Rohingyas but instead just here wanting to further your political argument against the government.

      Delete
    7. Lufang, for once I agree with you :(

      Delete
    8. "as you don't really care about the oppressed Rohingyas but instead just here wanting to further your political argument against the government."

      Or maybe I do, but don't like people using them as props?

      Delete
    9. Anon 2306.

      I think you are so obsessed with jho low and 1MDB and nothing else matter to you.

      Prof Kangkung

      Delete
    10. Somebody robbed my money, i care of what happens to them
      Im poor man, not filthy rich like you macai kangkung
      Or are you implying that this pirate is the god of malay destined to bring 'hope' who did no wrong?
      Are we depending on this roach thief to govern malaysia?

      Delete
  2. Why doesnt azeez n his boss look at their own backyard i mean the east coast flood victims

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is this Azeez that donkey who squandered away Tabung Haji funds to purchase super-priced 1MDB land in downtown KL?

      I mean if he's a jibby macai . . . their showboating vices are legend aren't they?

      Delete
    2. I live in Kelantan.what is so wrong with the way we handle our flood victims?

      Prof Kangkung

      Delete
  3. Annie..

    About how good is Anifah Aman..I think you should keep it yourself..this is the chap who flanked the blurred saudi arabia foreign minister confirming the so called arab donors are 'em..while that blurred arabic making the statement anifah nodding his head like nasyid singer on trance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't forget to hold Zahid Komedi to his lie that he met the Arab donors.

      If he's met Jho Low then he's right, of course, because the only "Arab prince" is that fat cinapek.

      Delete
    2. Hahaha! what a joe-low reputation for Wharton's business school!

      What electives did the fat arse do?
      Cooperative Ministerial Wealth Fun(d) Meandering?

      Delete
  4. Annie,

    This flotilla is simply for show - nothing more.

    Look at the party-like atmosphere with the streamers and banners. I wonder how much they cost!

    Look at the half-assed organisation - no clearance from Myanmar or Bangladesh.

    As you said, if Anifah had not called in a few favours in Myanmar and Bangladesh, that flotilla would be still be sailing around in circles.

    And the presence of Najib and Tuan Ibrahim?

    Now that is a political statement if ever there was one.

    It seems to be very carefully staged - perhaps a political exercise to rally the two camps and united them.

    The question is how much aid will actually reach the Rohingyas?

    I don't think there are any independent observers, e.g UNHCR, to verify the delivery of aid to those who most need it.

    Don't get me wrong, there will probably be photos of packages being handed out to smiling and grateful Rohingyas.

    The question is whether all the aid will get to its intended recipients and we will never really know.

    I have a feeling very little, if any, aid will get delivered because the whole process just seems so haphazard and disorganised.

    Most of the aid will probably be "lost" in transit between the ports and the long distances to where the Rohingyas are.

    It would be a real shame if at the end of all this, the Rohingyas at still no better off.

    Gladiator

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Don't get me wrong, there will probably be photos of packages being handed out to smiling and grateful Rohingyas."

      Yep, anything for photo-op.

      Remember Jibby & Perak MB arriving with photographers after the floods had already killed people and he was golfing & shopping in USA?

      He was caught on video telling the phorographers to capture them wading through the water.

      All staged....

      Delete
    2. Gladiator,
      I'm trying to be positive here. At least something were being done to help the Rohingyas. It's better than doing nothing and just watching as they are being oppressed, raped, murdered and chased away from their home. As for the intentions of the people who are trying to help them, I rather leave that to God to decide. For me, what most matters is that at the end of the day the Rohingyas got some kind of help. They are our fellow human beings after all. Thank you.

      Delete
    3. Annie,

      //
      I'm trying to be positive here.//

      I know, I know.

      I have known for a long time that you are a soft-hearted kind soul.

      //For me, what most matters is that at the end of the day the Rohingyas got some kind of help.//

      And there is nothing wrong with feeling that way.

      As human beings, it is natural that we want something anything to be done immediately like right now.

      But I feel the right approach should be at the Government-Government level because Malaysia claims to have good relations with Myanmar.

      Another possible option is UN intervention.

      The piecemeal approach like what that flotilla is taking might as well involve taking the packages offshore near Myanmar, throwing it in the sea, and hoping that the packages will float over to the Rohingyas.

      Yes, there is the feel-good factor that something is being done, but we must recognise that it is a waste of resources and effort which is rather ineffective and short-term.

      It seems smarter to use the effort and the resources elsewhere, like lobbying MPs - government and opposition, working with other international NGOs like the Red Crescent or Medicins Sans Frontiere, lobbying the UN, etc etc.

      But we are humans and we seem more influenced by the immediate gains, in this case, the feel-good factor that we have, at least, done something.

      I am not saying that it is bad to want to do something anything no matter how small, but we need to be smart as well.

      Most emergency response institutions worldwide adopt the principle that their personnel ensure their own personal safety before helping others in need.

      This way, they don't end up having to rescue the "rescuer" and the victim.

      So, allow me to re-state that principle in the Rohingya case.

      To continue helping someone in a wasteful and inefficient manner using finite resources will eventually hurt both donor and recipient.

      Then we will have two persons, ie the "donor" and the recipient, needing help!

      Gladiator

      Delete
    4. "But I feel the right approach should be at the Government-Government level because Malaysia claims to have good relations with Myanmar.

      Another possible option is UN intervention."

      It has to be that way, or sanctions.

      In the end, Nyanmar must simply admit that these people are citizens of their country, and give them full rights.

      That is long and painful but the world must make sure it's done.

      Delete
    5. Genuinely helping and helping with ulterior motive are two different things. Try doing a survey to find out from the public if this so called flotilla thingy is done out of compassion for the victims or for political mileage, and you will be surprise how many people will answer correctly that it is for our local political wayang kulit.

      Delete
    6. Gladiator.how much have you donated?

      Prof Kangkung

      Delete
  5. You may want to know that there are almost 200,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh and now Bangladesh is planning to move all to an island which can soon become Rohingya Island. Myanmar will be most relieved. Can the 55,000 Rohingyas also be relocated there too. If not Malay/Muslims and Pejabat Zakat duty bound to help your fellow ummah who are tersadai kat Malaysia. Donatelah setiap bulan dari Gaji and minta pejabat zakat salurkan bantuan. Setuju?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those persecuted yemenis also need all the help that they can get, so where is all these food flotilla, azeez & anifah to yemen???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. the Yemenis are being persecuted too. Please help them too... quietly, this time.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous @ 10 February 2017 at 08:04,

      //Those persecuted yemenis also need all the help that they can get/

      Those Yemenis are Shias so they are deviants.

      The Malaysian version of "Islam" does not give a shit for deviants unless they convert to Sunni Islam.

      So, no need to help those deviants.

      Thank you for your concern but next question please?

      Gladiator

      Delete
    3. HUMANITARIAN meh??? All human lives matter whether sunni or shiite???

      Delete
  7. call me a jerk, it's fine, but why do muslims only help their own kind, it devalue the whole exercise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous @ 10 February 2017 at 09:30,

      //call me a jerk//

      You are a jerk :)

      //why do muslims only help their own kind//

      No brownie points for helping non-Muslims?

      Gladiator

      Delete
  8. I wonder why no country nor UN proposes a sanction on Myanmar... I guess the lure of business opportunities in Myanmar is just too great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Anonymous @ 10 February 2017 at 11:09,


      //why no country nor UN proposes a sanction on Myanmar//

      That is exactly what I meant about us lobbying our politicians, both government and opposition, for answers.

      Hentam them with this very simple question.

      And demand a simple answer using simple language.

      Gladiator

      Delete
    2. thegreatteadrinkerdownsouth10 February 2017 at 13:37

      Simple answer - China is a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council. With veto power.

      Next simple answer - the Trump administration isn't interested about the Rohingya, Asean etc.

      Nikki Haley, the new US Ambassador to the UN, wants to take an axe to UN funding for peacekeeping operations.

      As for Malaysia making a stand, how much support is it getting from fellow Asean members?

      So, spare us the lectures, please!

      And focus on realpolitik.

      Delete
  9. Kadang-kadang manusia sanggup guna cara mudah untuk cari publisiti..dah takde org lain antara 20 juta rakyat Malaysia? Benda-benda yg baik elok lah dibuat secara senyap2...tak perlu 'sureheboh'..rakyat dah meluat tengok muka sesetengah pemimpin yg hipokrit..Myanmar gelak kui..kui..je tengok gelagat pemimpin Malaysia, terutama sekali yg opportunism..tetiba Myanmar kata tersalah tembak kang!! dah mati free2...aduyai..tq

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Komen ni tepat sekali...!!!!

      Delete
  10. Rohingyas and Bangladeshi are welcomed to Malaysia. Because they denied human right in their own land, but we dont protect and being super defensive over the right of Najib and Jho low yea?
    Just as long as the refugees don`t vote for GE14. Malaysia seemed like a very nice and regulated country no? no plan B or plan C hanky panky afterwards whatsoever
    right?right...?am i right?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Annie..
    Kite tolong orang lain ni memamg la bagus tak kira la muslim atau non muslim..

    Isunya sekarang mengapa pertolongan itu di perbesar besarkan macam nak runtuh langit??!!..semua org yg celik tau yg benda ni utk political mileage!!.. lebih lebih lagi si pelakunya si azeez rahim mamak padukang gila publisiti!!..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yg manakah yg lebih buruk.pertolongan yg dibesar besarkan ke atau tiada pertolongan langsung.
      Soal ikhlas atau tak itu biar Allah yg menentukan.kita manusia biasa tak boleh baca isi hati manusia

      Prof Kangkung

      Delete
  12. Annie,

    I know that you feel strongly about helping others no matter how little or how small the effort is.

    But sometimes, before we help, we must think, we must plan, we must prepare.

    This food flotilla is an example of help which was not thought thru, not planned properly and totally unprepared.

    It is looking like this flotilla is all turning to shit.

    They got nowhere with Myanmar.

    500 tonnes of aid was handed over to the Myanmarese authorities for delivery to the Rohingyas.

    I wonder how much aid will be really handed over to the Rohingyas by the Myanmarese authorities.

    Now it looks like the flotilla has been screwed by Bangladesh as well.

    The flotilla is docked miles away from where the refugee camps are.

    And there are news reports that no aid volunteer is allowed off the ship.

    So, that begs the same question as to aid delivered in Yangon, Myanmarar, i.e. how much aid will actually get to the Rohingyas?

    This flotilla has been a waste of effort, time and money.

    It is looking like another one of those "syiok sendiri" campaigns with the Rohingyas being used for props, given nothing but false hope.

    This not how we "help" people.

    Gladiator

    ReplyDelete