KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will continue to engage with Asean members to find a final solution to end the political crisis in Myanmar, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.
He said that this was because a solution to the conflict in Myanmar requires the agreement of all Asean members, not just Malaysia, as it involves issues related to the bloc.
“In this context (the Myanmar conflict), we understand that the issue at hand is very, very complicated – so much so that there is the possibility of other powers coming in later to intervene.
“It will create an atmosphere of what we call a ‘flashpoint’ in the area and will make the Southeast Asian region unsafe,” he said during Ministers’ Question Time in Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Jimmy Puah (Tebrau-PH) who asked whether Malaysia and other Asean countries are prepared to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the country into restoring democracy.
Zambry also reiterated Malaysia’s stand of not recognising Myanmar’s junta following the country’s military coup on February 1, 2021.
“Malaysia is indeed very concerned about the prolonged political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, even though it shows no signs of abating.
“The implementation of the Asean Five Point Consensus has not yet reached a satisfactory level, but Malaysia is continuing efforts to help Myanmar achieve a solution to the conflict in the country,” he said.
The five points call for an immediate end to violence in the country; dialogue among all parties; the appointment of a special envoy; humanitarian assistance by Asean; and a visit by a special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties in the conflict.
Apart from that, Zambry said that despite the current crisis in Myanmar, the Malaysian embassy there continues to operate and serves to inform on developments in the country.
“Although the current situation is quite difficult, we still maintain our embassy there through a charge d’affaires in an effort to ensure that the discussion and engagement process (with Asean members) can continue from time to time.
“In fact Myanmar is still one of the members of Asean. Like it or not, what happens there will have an impact on our country,” he said in response to another supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Pasir Mas-PN) who wanted to know the impact of Malaysia’s non-recognition of Myanmar’s military government on long-term bilateral relations between Putrajaya and the country.
February 1 this year marked exactly two years since the military led by Min Aung Hlaing took control of Myanmar and the country has been in turmoil since then – with battles sparked nationwide and the economy being affected.
Myanmar’s military regime has extended a state of emergency by another six months and postponed elections due to be held by August as the junta battles anti-coup fighters across the country. – Bernama, March 9, 2023
