Thousands attend the 'Solidarity for Rohingya' gathering outside the Titiwangsa Stadium, December 4, 2016. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 ― The controversy surrounding the plight of the Rohingya people in the Myanmar state of Rakhine is not one of religious persecution, but an ethnic issue, a group of Myanmar Muslim NGOs have said in a statement delivered to the Malaysian embassy in Myanmar.

According to Radio Free Asia, the statement, which was also sent to Myanmar’s Information Ministry, was released on December 5.

“We hereby assert that the Muslim community in Myanmar do not take it as a religious persecution, but a controversial ethnic issue,” the letter said.

The recent spate of violence in the Rakhine state has left more than 90 people dead and forced thousands of Rohingyas to flee into the neighbouring Bangladesh.

Myanmar sees the ethnic Rohingyas as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, and many of them are allegedly denied basic rights.

The group urged that the “unfortunate” situation in Myanmar not to be “exploited” by any party, while stressing that the Asean charter prevents a member nation from interfering in another country’s internal affairs.

On Sunday, thousands gathered in Kuala Lumpur to show solidarity with the Rohingya.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who took part in the rally, refuted claims that Malaysia’s criticism on the matter was a form of foreign interference.

Najib instead stressed that Malaysia’s concerns are raised based on “universal values”.