KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has reiterated its calls for an end to the ongoing violence and political marginalisation in Myanmar, urging adherence to the Five-Point Consensus.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Asean is facing a significant challenge with the crisis in Myanmar, given the scale of death, displacement, and fighting.
"This message Asean should convey must come from a unified voice. Failure to act when there is ample cause to believe that a member state is violating the spirit of the Asean Charter is a dereliction of our moral duty.
"Of course, Asean can only facilitate any efforts when the various parties in Myanmar are ready to do so. But this does not mean that we should not try multipronged, more creative tracks. The status quo is not static," he said in his keynote address at the 37th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (37APR) organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia.
Anwar said while it is not Asean's place to decide what is best for the people of Myanmar, it is incumbent upon friends and neighbours to help facilitate what and where they can.
"We will also work with other Asean member states and Dialogue Partners who influence Myanmar to push for peace, more effective humanitarian mechanisms, and the eventual political engagement of all relevant stakeholders in that country."
He added that as Malaysia prepares to chair Asean in 2025, the country will strive to lead with moral character, as emphasised in the principles of Malaysia Madani.
"This entails a civil and inclusive approach that celebrates interconnectivity.
"In upholding our enduring principles of non-alignment and cooperation, the Madani ideals demonstrate that it is possible to act respectfully while actively shaping our region.
"Indeed, for Malaysia, Asean is more than a pillar of our foreign policy; it is also a force multiplier and a valuable asset to exercise our agency."
