Aid Flotilla to Myanmar

In February, a 2,300 tonne food flotilla was flagged off by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang at Port Klang. The destination was Yangon, in response to the persecution of the Rohingya minority in Rakhine State. Among the entourage for the 20-day voyage were 230 volunteers, including 20 doctors and 10 medics. We speak to mission organizer Datuk Mutalif Rahim about the logistical challenge of putting together something like this, our country’s willingness to criticize Myanmar’s treatment of Rohingya while refusing to recognize them as refugees in Malaysia, as well as his philosophy on volunteerism.