Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN Foreign Ministers have agreed that efforts to continue engaging with all stakeholders in Myanmar must persist to find a long-term solution to the protracted crisis in the country, which began with a military coup on February 1, 2021. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair, planned to visit Myanmar to formally present a 'wishlist' gathered from various stakeholders to the State Administration Council (SAC).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad expressed plans to meet with the SAC to present the wishlist and receive feedback. Earlier, he chaired the first Informal Consultative Meeting involving the previous ASEAN Chair, Laos; the current Chair, Malaysia; and the incoming Chair, the Philippines. The meeting will later expand to include all ASEAN Foreign Ministers, except Myanmar.
Mohamad noted that the meeting heard a report from the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, Tan Sri Othman Hashim, about the latest developments in the country. ASEAN remains committed to ensuring Myanmar adheres to the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) agreed upon by ASEAN leaders in 2021, which includes ceasing violence, initiating inclusive dialogue, and allowing unhindered humanitarian assistance.
He acknowledged difficulties in implementing this consensus due to trust deficits and ethnic conflicts persisting for decades in Myanmar. Mohamad emphasized that the Myanmar crisis affects the entire ASEAN region, including issues related to refugees and cross-border crimes.
Responding to inquiries about Myanmar's participation in ASEAN political discussions, Mohamad clarified that Myanmar is not banned from full participation but is currently only invited to non-political meetings. As chair and host of ASEAN 2025, Malaysia will host the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 27, alongside two high-level meetings with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China for expanded regional cooperation. Malaysia previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.