TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno on Friday said that the province is ready to accommodate Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in a move he called ‘the manifestation of a humanitarian aid’
"Humans have the rights to live and we have to protect (the rights),” the governor said, adding that if those refugees come to the province, Irwan ensured that the local government would take care of them.
He also ensured that aids for the refugees would be given in line with the prevailing law in Indonesia.
Irwan went on to say that although West Sumatera provincial government does not have a special budget to accommodate the refugees, the government could use zakat (donation) money.
According to Irwan, refugees can be categorized as those entitled to receive zakat.
ANDRI EL FARUQI | IMRAN M.A.
