- Title: Malaysia debates pulling out of ASEAN soccer cup over Myanmar's Rohingya crackdown
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (NOVEMBER 23, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MALAYSIA YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN STANDING AT PODIUM KHAIRY GIVING SPEECH PEOPLE LISTENING TO SPEECH MALAYSIAN FLAG ON TSHIRT CAMERAMAN FILMING KHAIRY SITTING REPORTERS STANDING LISTENING TO NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Malaysia) MALAYSIA YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER, KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN, SAYING: "Some people asked why we are raising this matter now instead of earlier.... While we've known for a while that Myanmar will be the host, this demand was made based on recent reports from the Rakhine region that showed proof of attacks that reportedly show evidence of genocide." NEWS CONFERENCE ONGOING REPORTERS LISTENING TO NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTER TYPING NOTES ON MOBILE PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Malaysia) MALAYSIA YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER, KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN, SAYING: "I will seek the opinion of the cabinet and they will decide whether or not to continue (with the match), after which I will advise the team coordinator. But whatever they decide, we must continue to speak up, which is why on Friday, UMNO youth will gather at the Myanmar embassy to handover our memorandum." REPORTERS LISTENING TO NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN FILMING KHAIRY LEAVING/END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 09:57
- Keywords: ASEAN soccer cup Malaysia Myanmar Rohingya
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- City: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00159NZEPX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Malaysia is considering pulling its side out of a major regional soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar in protest over Myanmar's crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Wednesday (November 23).
A withdrawal by Muslim-majority Malaysia from the ASEAN Football Federation's (AFF) Suzuki Cup, which began on Saturday, would run counter to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations' long-standing policy of non-interference.
Khairy said Malaysia's cabinet will decide on the matter at a meeting on Friday (November 25), adding that the youth wing of the country's ruling party will hand over a memorandum to protest the Rohingya crackdown at the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur
"I will seek the opinion of the cabinet and they will decide whether or not to continue (with the match), after which I will advise the team coordinator. But whatever they decide, we must continue to speak up, which is why in Friday, UMNO youth will gather at the Myanmar embassy to handover our memorandum." Khairy said at a news conference
Malaysia was due to play Vietnam in Yangon on Wednesday.
"Some people asked why we are raising this matter now instead of earlier.... While we've known for a while that Myanmar will be the host, this demand was made based on recent reports from the Rakhine region that showed proof of attacks, that reportedly show evidence of genocide," he added
The conflict in northwestern Rakhine state has sent hundreds of Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh and poses a serious challenge to Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who swept to power last year on promises of national reconciliation.
Myanmar soldiers have poured into the Maungdaw area in Rakhine state since October 9, after an insurgent group of Rohingyas that the government believes has links to Islamists overseas launched attacks on several border guard posts.
Escalating violence has reportedly killed at least 86 people and displaced some 30,000. Myanmar soldiers have also been accused of sexually assaulting dozens of women from the persecuted minority.
Suu Kyi's problems have since been exacerbated by a resurgence of fighting among four armed ethnic groups in northeastern Shan state, which has sent thousands fleeing into China. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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