KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia fully supports the decision made by the Asean chair, Brunei, on the issue of representation from Myanmar at the 38th and 39th Asean Summits and related summits, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said this in his Twitter posting regarding Malaysia’s statement at the three-day summits beginning today under the chairmanship of Brunei via virtual conference.
During the Asean foreign ministers’ online meeting on October 15, the regional bloc took a bold step to exclude Myanmar’s junta from the summits and also shot down the request by Myanmar’s shadow government – the national unity government – to join the summits.
The grouping instead decided to invite a non-political representative to represent the country.
Since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown by the junta on February 1, there has been internal unrest in Myanmar with nearly 1,000 civilians killed by security forces.
During the 38th Asean Summit, Ismail Sabri also touched on the Covid-19 pandemic – urging Asean to enhance cooperation with like-minded countries and relevant international organisations towards ensuring that vaccines are affordable, accessible, and equitably shared for all, as well as prioritising engagement in health diplomacy through greater collaboration.
He said the high-level task force on the Asean Community Post-2025 Vision is to prepare Asean to be more agile in dealing with challenges and adapting to changes.
Ismail Sabri pointed out that the regional bloc should identify measures to make way for Asean to work more efficiently and effectively with optimum utilisation of resources.
“Include opportunities derived from the experience and lessons from the pandemic,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, on the 39th Asean Summit, he said Malaysia urges Myanmar to continue with efforts in delivering its commitment to ensure effective repatriation of refugees, and protect returnees’ human rights.
He said Malaysia also firmly holds that matters relating to the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and constructively, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law – including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Malaysia also remains strongly committed to ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by the end of this year as it will help expedite regional recovery, as well as resilience. – Bernama, October 26, 2021
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