KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 25 — ASEAN is examining new approaches to strengthen the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) towards resolving the crisis in Myanmar, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said that although the situation in Myanmar had shown some improvement, the country had yet to achieve the progress agreed upon by ASEAN leaders through the 5PC, which remained the main framework in efforts to restore peace in the country.
Mohamad said at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines on May 8, regional leaders agreed that ASEAN foreign ministers should hold informal engagements with Myanmar to assess current developments and identify next steps.
“The 5PC will still exist, but now ASEAN leaders want foreign ministers to think about how we can work with Myanmar to manage its implementation.”
“If we need to make a few changes, everything must be approved by the ASEAN heads of state,” he said during a question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from William Leong Jee Keen (PH-Selayang) on whether there was a new approach given that Myanmar had still failed to comply with the 5PCs to resolve the crisis in the republic.
Mohamad said Malaysia also proposed that the six-month ceasefire implemented by Myanmar, which is scheduled to end at the end of July, be continued as a second phase towards a more comprehensive peace effort.
Malaysia also urged Myanmar to provide a clear roadmap to continue the peace process, including implementing an inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders.
He said ASEAN did not want Myanmar to continue to be marginalized because that situation could create a vacuum, opening up space for outside powers to intervene, thus affecting the region’s efforts to resolve the conflict.
“We do not want to leave a vacuum that will eventually be filled by third parties with certain interests, further complicating the situation in Myanmar and also ASEAN,” he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia would continue to engage with all stakeholders including the Myanmar government, National Unity Government (NUG), People’s Defence Force (PDF) and ethnic armed groups to support the ASEAN-led peace efforts.
— BERNAMA
