SHAH ALAM, Aug 5 — Malaysian, Thai, and Indonesian foreign ministers will visit Myanmar this month amid a continued Asean push for peace talks, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the visit will follow-up on ongoing diplomatic engagements with all parties involved in Myanmar’s prolonged internal conflict, including the military junta and the National Unity Government.
“The military hospital has been running for several months, providing humanitarian aid. One of our conditions was that there must be no new attacks or armed operations in the area. This is also part of our effort to protect the long-oppressed Rohingya community.
“For the first time in months, they feel somewhat relieved (as) there haven’t been any major attacks… Though a few isolated incidents have been reported.
“Our foreign minister, and (foreign minister) from Thailand and possibly Indonesia, are expected to visit Myanmar later this month to continue these efforts,” said Anwar in response to a supplementary question by opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin on Asean’s role in the Myanmar crisis, during Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar also reaffirmed Malaysia’s stance on Myanmar, including efforts to establish humanitarian aid routes and a field hospital operated by the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).
Previously, he said Malaysia has played an increasingly active role in mediating regional disputes, confirming that a final decision on coordinated monitoring forces and a possible permanent presence at the Cambodia-Thailand border is expected by Thursday.
Ongoing military tensions between the two neighbours has displaced over 150,000 people, prompting Asean intervention led by Malaysia.
Anwar also credited the MAF and the Foreign Ministry for convening generals from Cambodia and Thailand in Kuala Lumpur, where progress has been made towards a ceasefire deal.
“We are aiming to reach a resolution within three months at the latest, but in any negotiation, we can’t set rigid deadlines. What we are firm on is that a ceasefire must take place.
“This approach allows us to avoid the involvement of major powers and keep the negotiations strictly between Asean countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, when asked about equal funding for opposition MPs, he suggested the opposition bloc first reach internal consensus before negotiations can proceed, with the deputy prime minister in charge.
