Malaysian PM: 'Genocide' of Muslims in Myanmar is 'Our Problem'

The Rohingya people, a Muslim ethnic minority of about 1 million in Myanmar, have consistently been persecuted by the Buddhist majority in the country - to the point that some are calling it ethnic cleansing.

Neighboring states have become concerned about the violence toward the minority group. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, led a protest December 4 in Kuala Lumpur calling on Myanmar's Asian neighbors to help stop the genocide.

"UN, please do something. The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking place," Najib said to the crowd, which included Rohingya refugees. "The world cannot say it is not our problem. It is our problem," he said.

The Rohingya are considered the most friendless people in the world, the AP put it. They are denied citizenship in Myanmar despite having lived there for generations. Bangladesh, which hosts many Rohingya refugees, also refuses to give them citizenship.

In 2012, when the clash between Rohingya and Buddhist communities escalated, hundreds of Rohingya were killed, more than 100,000 were forced into squalid camps and some 140,000 had to flee to camps for the internally displaced.

"I will not close my eyes and shut my mouth. We must defend [the Rohingya] not just because they are of the same faith but they are humans, their lives have values," Najib said.

This protest marks a shift from the policy of non-interference by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in each other's affairs.

Najib, his family and his government are currently embroiled in a massive corruption scandal.