By HIDAYATH HISHAM
MALAYSIA intends to send a delegation to Myanmar to hold direct talks with the State Administration Council (SAC), as part of ongoing ASEAN efforts to resolve the country’s protracted internal crisis.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (picture) said ASEAN must take an active role in restoring regional stability, particularly in view of the cross-border impact caused by the conflict.
“We agree that the effort to ensure the situation in Myanmar is well managed is something necessary. Because Myanmar is part of the ASEAN family.
“And ASEAN has the responsibility to ensure that the country, as a member of the wider ASEAN family, is in a good state,” he said during a press briefing on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
He said Malaysia will relay the views and expectations of Myanmar’s stakeholders — who recently met with ASEAN representatives in Kuala Lumpur — directly to the military-led government.
“We plan, as a chairman of ASEAN, to go to Myanmar, to visit and to talk, because we have already met with the respective stakeholders, we know what is their wishlist, and now want to present it to SAC,” he said.
“We’ll then see what feedback or response we receive from SAC,” he added.
Mohamad emphasised that this is not interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs, but a necessary step in addressing an issue that now affects ASEAN as a whole — particularly in terms of refugee movements and transboundary crime.
He reiterated that Myanmar had agreed to the Five-Point Consensus and said the core challenge is no longer implementation, but the lack of trust among various parties.
“The Five-Point Consensus is not difficult. The first is to stop all hostility against their people, against various ethnic groups, and to have dialogue.
“Then, the delivery of humanitarian aid must not be disrupted. After that, we ensure the appointed special envoy can meet with all parties in Myanmar,” he said.
Mohamad added that Myanmar’s internal dynamics — rooted in decades-long ethnic conflict across multiple regions, languages and identities — complicate any form of unified dialogue.
Nonetheless, he said ASEAN remains committed to sustained engagement.
“These negotiations cannot happen just once or twice. They must be done repeatedly to build mutual understanding,” he added.
While Myanmar remains excluded from ASEAN’s high-level political meetings, Mohamad said the country has not been banned entirely.
“They are invited, but not in a political capacity. They’ll be here,” he said.
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