KUANTAN – Asean needs to have a greater sense of urgency in dealing with issues related to Myanmar and not just rely on one meeting after another, because the situation has been prolonged and is deteriorating, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
Saifuddin said that even if a meeting is required, it can be done online at any time as the next meeting is this November.
He also voiced his dissatisfaction with the reports and data on developments in Myanmar – the number of battles, number of victims killed and arrested, and those who became refugees – which were not updated and communicated accurately to him or other Asean foreign ministers.
“I will write to the Asean secretariat for the foreign ministers to make an assessment of the actual situation in Myanmar. What is actually happening should always be updated with the latest accurate figures.
“We can’t wait for another meeting. We in Asean have been managing this issue with meetings and I think this can’t be done anymore; Malaysia is ready to help in terms of expediting aid, and so on,” he told reporters after visiting SJKT Ladang Jeram here today.
In addition, Saifuddin said the progress report on humanitarian aid delivered through a special task force jointly established by Asean and the Myanmar junta was also dismal, and he is of the view that Asean should evaluate this.
“We need to find another way to deliver aid to those still in Myanmar because that aid is very much required.
“There are a number of local-based organisations that seem to be successful in carrying out their duties such as organising vaccinations and delivering humanitarian aid on their own without the cooperation of the junta because they do not trust the junta,” he said.
Saifuddin said there are also international organisations and parties interested in sponsoring humanitarian aid to Myanmar, but who have doubts on whether the humanitarian aid can be delivered in cooperation with the junta.
He added that it is important to continue engaging with the National Unity Government of Myanmar and the National Unity Consultative Council.
He said he has also expressed his intention to hold a meeting with the representatives of the two parties in the near future, either physically or by video conference. – Bernama, August 24, 2022
