MALAYSIA: Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak asked the authorities concerned to search and rescue the illegal migrant boats in the sea.

He made the order on Thursday.

Expressing his deep concern over the plight of migrant people on the shores of southeast Asian countries, the premier said that the problem carry international importance.

He also asked the navy and coast guard personnel to search and rescue the migrants, who are remaining stranded on the borders of Malaysia.

The PM in his Facebook Thursday post said, ‘I have instructed both the Royal Malaysian Navy and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to assist MERCY Malaysia to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyan refugees either by sea or land’.

‘It is basic human compassion that we ensure the hungry will be given food and water while the sick will be attended to with medical treatment and supplies’. (Sic)

However, Malaysia and Indonesia's foreign ministers are in Myanmar for talks on the migrant crisis. About 7,000 people are believed to be stranded at sea.

The migrants are comprised of Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar, as well as Bangladeshis, who are thought to be economic migrants.

Malaysia and Indonesia have said they will temporarily shelter those that land on their territory, but need the international community's help with resettling them.

BDST: 1338 HRS, MAY 21, 2015
RR/SMS