REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A humanitarian organization, Indonesia Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MERC), will join hands with the Indonesian Buddhist Representatives (Walubi) organization to build a hospital in Mrauk-U, Rakhine state, Myanmar.
"The hospital will be built through a collaboration between Muslims and Buddhists of Indonesia. The vice president has appreciated the plan, and there will be a meeting with Walubi to discuss technical issues," the Chairman of the Presidium of the MERC, Dr. Sarbini Abdul Murab, said here on Monday.
According to Sarbini, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked the Walubi leader, Hartati Murdaya, to facilitate the meeting in the next two days.
Sarbini remarked that the construction of the hospital in Rakhine would serve as an example that people of different religions can coexist in harmony and peace, just as in Indonesia.
The MERC has purchased a plot of land in Mrauk-U and has the support of the Rakhine government. The construction would cost about Rp20-30 billion.
"We will coordinate with Walubi regarding the funds," Sarbini stated.
The hospital in Myanmar will be the second health facility to be constructed by MERC which had earlier successfully established an Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, Palestine. The hospital was inaugurated by the Indonesian government in early 2016.
Rakhine State is located in the west of Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Daw, where Muslim Rohingya are in a minority living among Buddhists who form the majority in the country.
Conflicts triggered by religious sentiments are still common in the country. In May 2015, some ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, had received thousands of refugees who came via the Bengal Sea.
Most of the refugees are Rohingya ethnic people who had escaped from Myanmar to avoid conflicts.
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