MALAYSIAN PM Najib Razak urged Asian countries yesterday to confront neighbouring Myanmar over the “genocide” of its Muslim Rohingya minority.

“UN, please do something. The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking place,” Mr Najib told a protest rally of thousands in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian government-led protest marks a departure from the long-standing

policy of non-interference by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members in each other’s affairs.

“I will not close my eyes and shut my mouth. We must defend them not just because they are of the same faith but they are humans, their lives have value,” Mr Najib said.

Some critics accuse the PM, grappling with a financial scandal, of using the rally to win the support of his country’s Muslim Malays ahead of general elections which may be called before the scheduled 2018 date.

Myanmar denies its one million Rohingya residents citizenship, saying they are immigrants from Bangladesh — which also disowns them.

In recent years Buddhist chauvinist monks have led attacks on the minority.

Myanmar’s army launched a crackdown on Rohingya insurgents in October after nine troops were killed in attacks on border posts with Bangladesh.

In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said there were some 56,000 Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.

It said it has an obligation to halt the “ethnic cleansing” of the Rohingya and ensure security and stability in the region.

Malaysia has also summoned the Myanmar ambassador over the issue, and withdrew from two scheduled friendly football matches against Myanmar this month.