Former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah has urged Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan not to attend the informal meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Myanmar’s foreign minister to be held in Bangkok this Sunday (July 12).
He reminded the Philippines, as the rotating ASEAN chair, not to use such meetings (even if held informally) to normalize relations with Myanmar's military government.
Saifuddin stated that the Myanmar military government has done its utmost to belittle ASEAN’s efforts to resolve the country’s crisis and its protracted internal conflicts, repeatedly revealing its true face.
"The junta has not only ignored ASEAN’s calls for dialogue but has also escalated violence against civilians; in addition, the parliament fostered by the junta has passed a motion explicitly rejecting ASEAN’s ‘Five-Point Consensus.’"
"The junta has already rejected the minimum proposals put forward by ASEAN, so why should ASEAN reward such behavior with engagement at a higher level?"
Saifuddin issued a statement saying that Malaysia should not support this meeting, as it goes against the objectives advocated during Malaysia’s tenure as ASEAN chair.
He added that the Myanmar military government may be attempting to expand its political legitimacy by obstructing ASEAN’s engagement with the country’s democracy movement.
Since the 2021 military coup and the subsequent civil war, Myanmar’s leaders have been banned from attending ASEAN summits.
In addition, Saifuddin also expressed concern over representatives of the Rohingya being “completely excluded” from the upcoming meeting, noting that Malaysia has hosted more than 100,000 Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar.
"How can efforts be made to restore the citizenship of Rohingya people, protect their equal rights, and create the conditions for their safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation when Rohingya representatives are not able to participate in the meeting?"