Any elections being held in conflict-stricken Myanmar must be impartial and inclusive, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Speaking on the final day of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings on Friday (July 11), Mohamad stressed that peace and an end to hostilities must be prioritised before any polls are conducted.
Mohamad also expressed concerns that the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus is still lacking, saying that three of the five points fall on stakeholders to implement them.
00:00During the discussion on Myanmar, ASEAN ministers urgently called on all parties in Myanmar,
00:06in particular the SAC, to cease hostilities and violence, observe and respect cease fires
00:13as well as ensure an impeded humanitarian access.
00:18This is in line with the decision of the 46th summit in May.
00:24As ministers continue to express support for the efforts of the Special Envoy for ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, Tan Sri Osman Hashim,
00:33in facilitating a peaceful resolution to the crisis, we also emphasise the importance of continuity in ASEAN approach to address the crisis.
00:44Malaysia expressed concern that the exploitation of five-point consensus on the ground is still lacking.
00:51We call on stakeholders to undertake concrete action in this regard.
00:55Out of the five points, three points fall on the stakeholders to implement.
01:01They are cessation of hostilities and violence.
01:04Number two, inclusive dialogue involving all parties' concerns.
01:08And number three, humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.
01:12The rest, the other two, is on our part.
01:14That is appointment of the Special Envoy and the last one is the assistance by all parties and the Secretary General assistance on this situation in Myanmar.
01:28Malaysia has consistently called on the SAC as the de facto party in power to show leadership and sincerity in committing towards peace and create a conducive environment,
01:41for inclusive political dialogue.
01:46On the planned elections, Malaysia's position remain clear and consistent.
01:50I have said before that peace is their priority.
01:53This means pursuing inclusive dialogue.
01:57I have also said before the election must be inclusive, free, fair and transparent.
02:03They said they want to have an election.
02:06They can have an election if it is inclusive and fair to everybody.
02:09But if it's a partial election, I don't think that it's a good idea to have an election, early election this year.
02:15During the AMM retreat, I stressed to the Myanmar delegation that elections have to be inclusive.
02:22Everybody, all political parties, all stakeholders have to be able to participate.
02:29There is no point in having an election if it is not inclusive.
02:32I also stated that peace and cessation of hostilities must be a priority before elections.
02:42Any election held without prior inclusive dialogue and political agreement with all Myanmar's stakeholders
02:49are likely to worsen the conflict and will not be seen as credible or legitimate.
02:55After concluding the 58 AMM and series of meetings with ASEAN dialogue partners,
03:01I co-chatted the fourth Ministerial Conference on Cooperation among East ASEAN countries, or SIPAD, for Palestinian development,
03:08together with my counterparts, Excellency Takashi Iwaya, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan,
03:16and Excellency Dr. Estefan Salameh, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Palestine,
03:21who attended the conference as a special guest.
03:24We reaffirmed our strong support for Palestinians' right to self-determination amid the dire humanitarian and human rights situation
03:32in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly Gaza, with the adoption of Kuala Lumpur Action Plan 2025.
03:40Through the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan, collective regional assistance will be galvanised to urgently address Palestinians' need.
03:49The Action Plan will guide members of the SIPAD to assisting Palestine in areas, among others, humanitarian aid, reconstruction,
03:57and state building through capacity building and technical cooperation.
04:01I reaffirm Malaysia's longstanding principal position on Palestine's rights to self-determination through the swift establishment of the sovereign state of Palestine,
04:13based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
04:20I call upon the remaining 46 states that have yet to recognise the state of Palestine to do so without any preconditions,
04:28and to support Palestinians' emissions as a full member of the United Nations without any further delay.
04:35Malaysia is committed to assist Palestinians to targeted assistance, focusing on humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and state building, as well as youth development.
04:45Malaysia's technical assistance and capacity building for Palestine will primarily be undertaken through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, or MTCP.
04:56At the meeting just now, I announced Malaysia's contribution of another US$1 million to be channeled to UNRWA and to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
05:05This is in addition to the USD$16 million that have been already channeled to the Palestinian people since September 2023.
