MALAYSIA, one of the biggest critics of violence in military-ruled Myanmar, on Wednesday raised the possibility of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) allowing member-countries to engage informally with the junta “without sacrificing the issue of human rights.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he discussed the matter with Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., who was in Kuala Lumpur for bilateral meetings.
Malaysia and ASEAN previously rejected any engagement with the junta, though Thailand this year hosted an informal meeting with Myanmar, citing a need to maintain dialogue.
“We did touch on Myanmar to strengthen the five-point consensus of ASEAN but also give some flexibility… for neighboring countries to engage on an informal basis without sacrificing the issue of human rights, and the treatment of minorities, particularly the Rohingya,” Mr. Anwar said in a joint press conference with Mr. Marcos Jr.
The Philippine president did not comment on Myanmar.
ASEAN, which includes Myanmar among its 10 members, has pushed, without success, the implementation of a five-point peace plan agreed with the junta shortly after a coup in early 2021.
Malaysia has been a vocal critic of the junta. Earlier this month, it urged ASEAN to strongly condemn the junta’s actions, including violence.
Meanwhile, the Philippines and Malaysia will hold a meeting in October to boost their ties in the Halal industry and Islamic banking, Mr. Marcos said.
The two countries will also tackle their cooperation in food security and efforts to deter transnational crimes, he told the joint press briefing with Mr. Anwar.
The Philippine leader said Mr. Anwar and he have committed to closely coordinate efforts “to build capacity” in the Bangsamoro region in southern Philippines, citing the Halal industry and Islamic banking.
“Malaysia has warmly offered their expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors.” he said.
“We also agreed to enhance our trade and investment ties with each other. With Malaysia being one of the leading Halal economies in the world, cooperation in this sector would mutually benefit the growth of our respective halal ecosystems,” he added.
Manila and Kuala Lumpur should “ensure that the halal industry can penetrate more effectively into the Middle Eastern market,” Mr. Anwar said.
Mr. Marcos also met with Malaysian King Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
He was accorded a state welcome ceremony, including a 21-gun salute, upon his arrival at Istana Negara, Malaysia’s national palace, and was welcomed by the king and queen of Malaysia, as well as Mr. Anwar and his wife, Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the presidential palace said.
In their meeting, Mr. Marcos told the king their countries should focus on mutually beneficial initiatives and “see how we can help one another as we face the post-pandemic future.”
Mr. Marcos is also expected to meet with Malaysian business leaders to attract investments.
In his pre-departure speech on Tuesday, he vowed to strengthen Philippine-Malaysian ties in the Islamic banking and Halal industries. He also promised to boost cooperation in agriculture, the digital economy, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Mr. Marcos has had 14 foreign trips since he took office in June last year.
A day before his Malaysian trip, Mr. Marcos delivered his second address to Congress, where he touted his foreign trips, saying these have yielded P3.9 trillion in investment pledges and are expected to generate 175,000 jobs.
Economists have said Mr. Marcos had failed to detail how he plans to turn the pledges into actual investments. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza with Reuters
Malaysia raises prospect of ASEAN engaging informally with junta-ruled Myanmar
Source: Bantay Radio
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