01 December 2016•Update: 01 December 2016
By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysia has cancelled two football matches scheduled to take place in Myanmar this month in protest at ongoing violence against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.
A source close to the development told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that the decision is in-line with the federal government's anger with its fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member.
Malaysia's foreign minister has requested an immediate appointment with Myanmar state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss the violence and Prime Minister Najib Razak is due to lead a protest against Myanmar on Sunday.
In a statement released late Wednesday, the Football Association of Malaysia announced the cancellation of two friendly games involving the Under-22 squad in Yangon on Dec. 9 and 12.
At the time, no reason was given.
On Thursday, the source -- who did not wish to be named as he was not authorized to discuss the matter -- told Anadolu Agency that the matches were discussed at an earlier federal cabinet meeting along with a proposal for the national team to exit the then ongoing 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup in Myanmar.
"The cabinet decided not to exit the tournament, but decided not to participate in any future sports tournaments organized in Myanmar until a resolution is achieved," he said.
"This would serve as a sign of protest to Myanmar and also to the entire ASEAN region... to pressure for a cessation of violence," the person added.
Further political problems were averted when the Malaysian team was subsequently knocked out by the hosts in a 1-0 victory in Yangon.
Earlier this week, Razak was named to lead a Dec. 4 gathering organized by the government to protest violence against Rohingya.
Over the past six weeks, rights groups have expressed concern over reports of killings, rapes, arbitrary arrests and other violations in villages predominantly inhabited by Rohingya in Myanmar's western Rakhine State area amid military operations launched after fatal attacks on police outposts last month.
Rohingya advocacy groups claim around 400 Rohingya have been killed in military operations in northern Rakhine since the Oct. 9 deaths of nine Myanmar border police officials, while Myanmar says just 86 people -- 17 soldiers and 69 alleged "attackers" -- have been killed.
Humanitarian outfits have called for independent investigations into the initial attacks, the ongoing operations and reported rapes and rights abuses, as rights groups and international reporters have been unable to enter the area as it is under military lockdown.
