LANGKAWI — Asean foreign ministers have advised Myanmar to give priority to ending violence in the country before holding elections.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the ministers also agreed that Myanmar, which in a civil war since a military coup in 2021, urgently fulfil the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) adopted by the regional grouping.
The 5PC calls for an immediate end of violence, dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy, allowing humanitarian assistance by Asean, and allowing an Asean special envoy to visit Myanmar to meet with all parties.
“They (Myanmar) want to hold elections, but we told them elections are not a priority at the moment,” he told a press conference after the conclusion of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat here today.
Myanmar was represented at the meeting by its Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aung Kyaw Moe.
In December, Myanmar informed neighbouring countries of its plans to hold an election in 2025.
Mohamad said if an election was held, it should be inclusive and not be held “in isolation” among certain segments of Myanmar society.
On the 5PC, Mohamad said the Asean ministers reaffirmed the guideline as the main reference to address the situation in Myanmar urging the country’s military government to implement it.
The Asean foreign ministers expressed the need to continue efforts to achieve an inclusive and durable peaceful resolution in Myanmar that will contribute to peace, security and stability in the region.
“Therefore, we called on all parties to cease hostilities immediately, prioritise humanitarian access, and foster an environment for inclusive dialogue,” Mohamad said.
The foreign ministers also expressed support for the appointment of former Malaysian Foreign Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Othman Hashim as the Special Envoy of the Asean Chair on Myanmar.
Othman had served in several countries including Romania, Switzerland and China. He served as Malaysia’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador to the United States.
Othman was also accredited to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and headed the Malaysian delegations to the regular sessions of the UNHRC between 2009 and 2012.
Malaysia is Asean chairman this year and the two-day AMM Retreat here is among the first major meeting to kick off a series of Asean events that the country will host throughout the year.
Malaysia has previously chaired Asean in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. – January 19, 2025
