Bangkok, Feb. 13 (BNA): Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to explore new strategies and methods to resolve the current crisis in Myanmar.
Anwar stated in an exclusive interview with Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) that the Myanmar crisis can no longer be considered an internal affair of the country as it has affected its neighbors, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia as a result of the refugee influx. of refugees fleeing the country, Bernama reported.
“The Myanmar conflict will not be resolved in the near future unless ASEAN reviews what we should discuss,” he said.
He continued, “The ASEAN way has been very productive in dealing with many other issues (in the region). However, the ASEAN way needs to be revised when it comes to the Myanmar crisis because constructive engagement has not been successful.”
Anwar, who was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister in November last year, has described himself as young among other ASEAN leaders. He had discussed Myanmar-related issues with his counterparts in Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand during his official visits to these countries recently.
During his first visit to Thailand, Anwar met his counterpart Prayut Chan on Thursday and discussed several issues of mutual interest including Myanmar.
Anwar said ASEAN should make coherent and coordinated efforts as a regional organization to resolve the conflict in Myanmar during a joint press conference after the meeting.
He reiterated that Malaysia would do whatever was required to facilitate the peace process with regard to the crisis in southern Thailand.
MI