M'sia's stand on Myanmar polls based on Asean's decision - minister

PARLIAMENT | Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan has affirmed that Malaysia’s stance on Myanmar’s junta government's year-end election must be based on a collective Asean decision.

Mohamad also reiterated the government’s past efforts to assist Myanmar refugees - in Cox Bazaar, Bangladesh, and in Malaysia - as well as ongoing discussions recently held during the 47th Asean Summit.

“Whether or not to recognise the Myanmar government - the government’s Asean membership is only at the administrative level. Whenever there are meetings, ministers and heads of state are not invited, and that is the correct position.

“As for the election and the situation in Myanmar, Myanmar is an Asean issue. Malaysia, as the Asean chair this year, believes that any decision regarding Myanmar must be based on Asean’s collective decision,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Mohamad was responding to Wong Chen (Harapan-Subang), who asked the government to state whether Malaysia will “support” the upcoming election, which had sparked further human rights concerns, including from among Myanmar refugees.

On Oct 31, Malaysiakini quoted Kuala Lumpur-based refugee advocate, Saw Mue Mue, who described a nation gripped by trauma and uncertainty as junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, moves to cement his rule through an election designed to make his presidency permanent.

Saw, president of the National League of Democracy’s (NLD) Organising Committee (International) Malaysia, equated the election with giving the military a “licence to kill”.

Election must be fair

Mohamad emphasised in the august house that Asean was firm in its stance, saying that if an election is to be held, it must be conducted fairly, transparently, and inclusively.

“As long as the election does not meet these conditions, as stated by Asean, it will be very difficult for Asean, and Malaysia as its chair, to recognise any election that is unfair, non-transparent, or exclusive,” he stressed.

At the Asean Summit, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hailed the junta’s “cooperation”, while UN chief Antonio Guterres cautioned that peace in Myanmar “remains elusive”.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly five million people have been displaced inside and outside Myanmar since the 2021 coup, while Asean’s Five-Point Consensus has been ignored.

Five-point concensus

Mohamad, however, pointed to the appointment of a special envoy and ongoing engagements on the implementation of the five-point consensus as a sign of progress in Myanmar.

“The only thing lacking now is the reduction of brutality, attacks, and various other forms of violence. Access to humanitarian aid also remains restricted.

“The restriction is not only caused by the (Myanmar) government, but also by the ethnic groups who are fighting among themselves,” he added, to a supplementary question from Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Harapan-Ledang) on how Malaysia, in its remaining term as Asean chair, intends to push for implementation of the five-point consensus.

On further assistance, Mohamad reiterated that Asean is bound by its charter of non-interference in domestic issues, but Malaysia has continued to play a role in negotiating the channeling of humanitarian aid.

Reporting by Alyaa Alhadjri, Haspaizi Zain

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