“I work full time with the European Rohingya Council, and NGOs to provide healthcare and education for the Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. We teach them skills such as sewing, and help them to move on. I always tell the Rohingyas at our centre in Kedah that they have to learn to survive on their own.
It started in 2012 when my friend called me saying there were Rohingyas landing on the shores in Langkawi, where I was staying. I have never heard of Rohingyas before. All I knew was there were people who needed help, so I started calling people asking for foods, clothing and funds. I gave everything I had.
That day at the beach, I saw women and children’s screaming for help and it was something I can never forget. The tears, their facial expression… You can see clearly they were shouting for people to save them. They wanted to live.
I used to work in the hospitality industry as a manager and was earning well. My life was good, being a full-time mother. I pity my boy because I hardly spend time with him these days but he understands the importance of my work and my husband has been very supportive.
Children are innocent. They deserve rights to basic necessities and education. I will continue (my activism) until this genocide stops.”
The person featured is Tengku Emma Zuriana bt Tengku Azmi, The European Rohingya Council, Ambassador to Malaysia.
Photostory by Christine Cheah
Edited by Mushamir Mustafa
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(This post was first published on October 27th 2018)
