RECENTLY, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa shared news about his trip to China, which he named as a trip to the “vocational and training institution”.

Posted on his official social media account, he described the “vocational and training institution” as a place for industrial skills training and learning for the Uighurs, describing the various vocational sewing, art, and other types of classes.

He also hashtagged it with #ModelMalaysia, which indirectly likened the institution to what is or will be expected to be practiced in Malaysia.

A few days later, he shared his full speech that was presented at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Although the entire speech was addressing peace and harmony and conflict mediation and spoke of the idea that prevention of terrorism should be demarcated between violent action and indoctrination, before he ended the speech he stated that the China is actively resorting to the same approach that Malaysia is doing on confronting potential violence.

He also stated that instigating the world with false news could trigger relations between nations and people, and proceeded to state the “false news in China about Muslims (being) oppressed” as an example.

The Uighur Muslims constitute about eight to 10 million of the Xinjiang region population. They are the natives of Xinjiang even before the region fell into China’s control.

The Xinjiang region is rich in natural resources and is one of the major logistics hub in the Belt-Road Initiative (BRI) under the China Dream. Such facts are undeniable when we consider whether the China government has any possible motive to exert control over the Xinjiang region and its Uighur population.

IS the oppression against the Uighur ethnic false news?

Members of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination raised concerns over reported detentions of the Uighurs which have turned Xinjiang into a detention camp location, guised as re-education camps.

The camps are not for vocational training, as defended by China (and recently, by Mujahid), it is for political and cultural indoctrination as explained in the hearing by the UN committee.

Notwithstanding interference from the UN, research reports has also shown evidence for China’s political re-education campaign in Xinjiang.

According to the Jamestown Foundation, the onset of massive detentions coincided with the release of the “de-extremification regulations” by the local government, and the increase of their government procurement bids for the construction and upgrades of re-education facilities include installation of features that turn some existing facilities into prison-like compounds.

Recruitment of staff for these detention facilities often require no specific qualification or teaching experience, but showed preference for candidates who have strong ideological conformity to the China government, or those with previous police or military experience.

The China government claims that they are curbing extremism and separatist activities, thus legitimising these extreme measures.

Although there has been some rebellion of these minorities against the government in response to the oppression and torture directed towards their ethnic group, there is little to no evidence that indicate any cohesive terrorism, extremist or separatist movement by the Uighurs to even remotely justify the actions of the China government.

Media sources all over the world has given a clear picture of the situation inflicted upon the Uighurs in Xinjiang.

As reported by BBC, the Uighurs are subjected to intense surveillance by the China government, forced to give DNA and biometric samples for easier detection and control, and tortured physically and psychologically in the camps, based on accounts of former prisoners.

They are forced to scan identification cards on checkpoints located at train stations and roads to out of town, sometimes phones confiscated for further surveillance and at times even passports were taken, to disrupt traveling.

Reports from Al-Jazeera also indicated that often, the Uighurs imprisoned in these camps were taken in due to inconsequential reasons such as having a long beard, keeping a religious text on their phone, or establishing contact with the outside world.

There is no reason to believe that a vocational training institution would solely take in only ethnic minorities of a certain faith (and feature) by force, restricting their rights to freely exit, stripping their rights to fully practice their religion, and utilise staff who are recruited mostly with police, military, or those with background that indicate ideological conformity with the China government.

A foreign country’s religious affairs minister visit to such “training centres” will definitely be received with the portrayal of an idyllic scene with a clean and helpful skills-training environment, as opposed to the true colours of such “facilities” and what they stand for, which have already caused international uproar.

As a minister, it is a duty and responsibility not only to the country, but also to the people, to be aware of the bigger reality that is happening behind the scenes and to find out and learn the truth at the very minimum, before making or sharing a statement.

As a representative of the people who are voted by the people, any activity on behalf of the country that is related to foreign relations must be executed with knowledge, sound judgement, and in-depth awareness.

Any statement, speech, or social media posting by a minister could potentially send out the wrong message to the world regarding our country’s stand on oppression and discrimination.

The plight of the Uighurs is real and must not be reduced to false news, while the entities behind the oppressive practice must not be claimed as equal to our country’s administration. – July 3, 2019.

* Nadia Zaifulizan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.