Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia and the Philippines have jointly emphasized the necessity for humanitarian assistance to Myanmar to be delivered impartially and without restriction, as announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this agreement was reached during a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Anwar and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. Anwar highlighted that during the discussion, he also expressed Malaysia's desire for the ceasefire in Myanmar to be extended. This extension is crucial to ensure that humanitarian aid can continue to reach those in need within the affected populations.

Prime Minister Anwar shared details of the conversation in a Facebook post, stating, "This afternoon I made a phone call to my good friend (Marcos) to share several matters and latest developments regarding ASEAN and global issues."

In addition to the humanitarian aid discussion, Anwar, who also serves as Malaysia's Finance Minister, addressed tariff issues. He mentioned that Malaysia intends to utilize its role as ASEAN Chair to underscore its significance to the United States in ongoing global tariff negotiations. The US's recent decision to defer tariff implementation for 90 days offers a window for further dialogue on these matters, particularly given Malaysia's strengths in specific products.

Before concluding the call, Anwar extended his best wishes to President Marcos for the upcoming Philippine general election on May 12 and expressed his hope to meet the Philippine leader at the forthcoming ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.