JAKARTA: Asean must be bold when supporting the bloc's position on the Myanmar crisis, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said Malaysia is affected by the issue as it is accommodating 200,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, adding that the atrocities that occur in Myanmar were a cause of concern by the region and needed to be addressed.
"Asean countries have to be more forthcoming and bold in terms of their position. Malaysia, for example, has to accommodate more than 200,000 refugees from Myanmar, mainly Rohingya.
"And of course, Malaysians generally, including Muslims, feel disgusted by the atrocities inflicted upon minorities in Myanmar. We therefore have to take a clear, bold position in support of our Asean position to strongly urge Myanmar to accommodate (in this matter)," he said during an interview with The Jakarta Post in conjunction with the 43rd Asean Summit and Related Summits.
Anwar said Indonesia in its role as Asean chairman this year, took major steps to resolve the crisis in Myanmar and to maintain engagement with stakeholders in that country.
However, he said a lack of cooperation from the military junta and its disregard of Asean's Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar issue remain stumbling blocks to achieve stability in the country.
"I think probably for the first time in the history of Asean, we have held, I think, close to 100 meetings at the official level (on Myanmar). This initiative taken by Indonesia is supported by Asean countries to try and engage (with stakeholders in Myanmar).
" Unfortunately, the military junta has not been too forthcoming. Malaysia had taken a tough position (on Myanmar) based on the Five-Point Consensus and allowed for this engagement to continue.
"There has not been much progress but Asean has at least taken positive and proactive moves to engage with all parties. And we will have to continue to do so."
Anwar also reiterated his stance that implementation of the Five Point Consensus (5PC) in Myanmar was not as what Asean members and Malaysia hoped it would be.
He said Malaysia supported any proposal by Asean, including the setting up of troika mechanism to handle the Myanmar issue, although he felt that consensus among member states was the most effective method of handling it.
"Indonesia has done its part with very bold measures, but then it would also require responses on the part of the military junta. So for now, whether it's a troika or other engagements on an informal level by neighboring countries, they have got to be explored," he said.
When commenting on China's recent release of its mapping of its territories that included Asean states such as Malaysia, Anwar said the regional bloc remained uncompromised in terms of protecting its sovereignty.
"It is a questionable issue whether it's a new map or an old map. The map has been there and we have expressed our view.
"We disagree with it. We still consider our part of the boundary as our sovereignty. We've expressed our views and I think some countries in Asean have also expressed their views, either similar, sometimes stronger, sometimes less so. But we all have to continue to engage with China."
He said nations should never stop from engaging in negotiations on complex and multilateral issues which may sometimes take decades to be resolved.
"That is still a better option, than an armed or military conflict. So as long as countries are prepared to continue to engage and negotiate that is the best option. Although it is not necessarily conclusive," he said.
On yet another issue, Anwar said Malaysia has given various input in drafting of the Asean Concord IV, which will serve as the foundation for the development of the Asean Community Vision 2045 and strengthen Asean to address various future challenges.
" We have reaffirmed the position of ensuring there is freedom, which is also the view of the pioneers of Asean and to resolve issues within Asean, to avoid (being) influenced by other forces, outside forces, but now (also) to refocus on some of the urgent issues like climate change, digital transformation and increasing or enhancing trade and investments among Asean countries."
He said Asean members have reached a consensu to strengthen the Asean vision, which is the bloc's aspiration to forge a more cohesive Asean with a clearer direction and to streamline initiatives in diplomatic, security, trade and investment matters.
