Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who currently chairs ASEAN, has declared that the ongoing political crisis and conflict situation in Myanmar represents the most significant pressure and most challenging issue facing the ASEAN organization. This statement was made during the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was attended by over 400 representatives from 25 countries and approximately 50 experts in various fields.
As Malaysia prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, Anwar Ibrahim emphasized their commitment to addressing the Myanmar crisis through full utilization of regional cooperation mechanisms in partnership with allied nations. The primary objectives include reducing violence and restoring peace in the region. However, he stressed that ASEAN needs to take more urgent and intensive action in addressing the Myanmar situation. The conference, which ran for three days from June 17 to June 19 in Kuala Lumpur, served as a platform for discussing various regional issues, with the Myanmar crisis taking center stage.
Since the military takeover in Myanmar, ASEAN has established a five-point consensus aimed at facilitating peace processes, but progress has been notably limited to date. The Malaysian Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN must pursue more effective approaches to ensure the safety and security of Myanmar’s people and the restoration of democracy. This statement reflects the growing recognition within ASEAN that current approaches to the Myanmar crisis have not yielded the desired results, and more decisive action may be necessary to address the ongoing challenges facing the region.
