KUALA LUMPUR – The Pakatan Harapan secretariat council has urged Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to explain the recent meeting between the Malaysian ambassador and a cabinet member of the Myanmar military junta government.
In a statement today, the council said media reports regarding the meeting between Datuk Zahairi Baharim and Myanmar’s Electric and Energy Minister Aung Than Oo in the capital of Naypyidaw yesterday has raised many questions with regard to Malaysia’s stand against the Myanmar junta after its democratically elected government was toppled by the military, or Tatmadaw, in a coup d'etat on February 1.
First Ambo from ASEAN met with Myanmar military junta's minister
— Ro Nay San Lwin (@nslwin) April 7, 2021
see photos - Malaysian Ambo to Myanmar, Zahairi Baharim went to Naypyidaw & met junta's Minister of Electricity and Energy Aung Than Oo.
Does Malaysia recognize SAC Terrorists as legitimate govt? @MuhyiddinYassin pic.twitter.com/putRLJAgqs
“Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had earlier called for political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, to be released immediately. He has also called for an emergency Asean summit to be held to discuss the situation in Myanmar following the Tatmadaw coup.
“However, these requests have neither been implemented nor accomplished,” the council said.
A meeting between the ambassador and a member from the Myanmar junta, the council said, especially after Malaysia’s stand on the issue of political prisoners and the yet-to-be-held Asean emergency summit, has given rise to the perception that Malaysia recognises the military junta government.
“This does not help the efforts to restore democracy in Myanmar.”
PH’s response comes after Free Rohingya Coalition co-founder Ro Nay San Lwin tweeted pictures of the meeting aired on a TV station owned by the Tatmadaw, which has since gone viral.
“Does Malaysia recognise SAC Terrorists as legitimate govt? @MuhyiddinYassin,” he tweeted.
It is learnt Zahairi is the first ambassador from an Asean country to have met with a member of the junta. However, representatives from Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam were reportedly in attendance during a Tatmadaw parade in Naypyidaw two weeks ago.
Wisma Putra has yet to issue a statement on the matter at press time. – The Vibes, April 8, 2021
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