PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed Malaysia’s disappointment on the lack of meaningful and real progress in Asean’s efforts to tackle the humanitarian crisis and human rights violations in Myanmar which has entered its third year.
The Prime Minister said the situation in Myanmar remains challenging but all Asean members support Asean’s chair this year, Indonesia, to implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) to resolve the crisis.
“As agreed by the Asean Leaders in November 2022, the 5PC shall remain Asean’s valid reference and should be implemented in its entirety.
“Malaysia is disappointed that there continues to be a lack of meaningful and real progress in the implementation of the 5PC. We remain supportive of the efforts of the special envoy of the chair,” the Prime Minister told The Star on Wednesday (May 10).
The 5PC among other calls for an immediate cessation of violence and inclusive political dialogue.
In the written reply to The Star, the Prime Minister said Malaysia took note that Indonesia has undertaken 60 engagements with various stakeholders in Myanmar and that the progress remains slow.
Anwar is in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai city in East Nusa Tenggara province, for the 42nd Asean summit which begins today and chaired by Indonesia’s President Joko Widowo.
Myanmar’s military junta leader has not been invited to attend this summit.
This is Anwar’s first Asean summit as the Prime Minister.
He also said Malaysia on its part would use its good relations with other countries to rally the international community to support Asean’s efforts in addressing the crisis in Myanmar.
“Malaysia will work closely with the special envoy of the United Nations Secretary General in his matter.
“Ultimately, peaceful resolution in Myanmar can only be achieved by the collective will of all the parties concerned in Myanmar to uphold the aspiration of the people of Myanmar as reflected at the November 2020 general election,” he added. – The Star