REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Chairman of People Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan appreciated the government which was quick and responsive on dealing with Rohingya ethnic refugees. But he did not agree with the proposal if the refugees were given a special island.
"I appreciated the government quick responses to handle Rohingya refugees. But I do not agree the refugees hosted in an island, later they will come again and given one island again. (Our islands) could be run out," he said on Thursday, May 28.
He explained, indeed the vision of the Indonesia Government is to help on humanitarian reason. But that does not mean the problem of Rohingya refugees is the responsibility of Indonesia alone.
"But do not trouble us, for temporary is okay to stay there, because it is our duty to help others, because Rohingya refugees problem is an international humanitarian problem together. There are ASEAN, the UN. The Rohingya also have a place of origin, this is international problem," he explained.
Zulkifli instructed that the Indonesian government can bring this issue to the ASEAN level in order to seek a solution in resolving the problem.
"Indonesia, ASEAN countries and also Myanmar itself [should do smething]. All should sit together to resolve this issue," he said.