The team comprises 57 representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and seven members of the media, led by ATM chief General Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh.
The mission will evaluate the impact of assistance provided by Malaysia so far, besides ensuring that the field hospital will be equipped with adequate resources to tackle the medical situation involving Rohingya refugees.
It is also in line with the commitment of the Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) governments to provide medical supplies and facilities at the hospital.
Najib said the two Arab countries had joined Malaysia in showing Muslim solidarity and expressing concerns over the Rohingya issue.
“Yes, they (Saudi Arabia and UAE) are with us and we have proposed for them to join Malaysia in expressing their concerns.
“This is also to show Muslim solidarity and Alhamdulillah (All praise be to Allah), they responded very positively,” he said in his brief message.
The prime minister also said Malaysia would continue to be committed to help and defend the fate of the Rohingya community.
The delegation will distribute various essential items, including medical supplies and food, to the Rohingya refugees.
Malaysia is the first country to set up a field hospital with complete facilities and a maximum capacity of 100 beds manned by trained medical officers and staff to provide specialist care for the Rohingyas.
Although it was initially deemed a temporary measure to alleviate the suffering of the refugees, the lack of a long-term solution and extreme weather conditions had prompted Malaysia to expand the scope of its humanitarian aid.
So far, the Malaysian medical team at the field hospital has provided treatment to 3,768 patients.
Present at the flagging-off ceremony were Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Navy chief Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin and Army chief Zulkiple Kassim.