Asean mulling permanent special envoy on Myanmar, says Tok Mat
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean foreign ministers have agreed to explore a proposal to appoint a permanent Special Envoy on Myanmar, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Foreign Minister said none of his counterparts objected to the proposal of appointing an Asean permanent special envoy for a three-year term.
'The candidate of the permanent special envoy, was discussed at the senior officials meeting (SOM) level and it will be brought to the leaders.
'Basically, the idea of having a permanent special envoy was well received by the respective Asean member states,' said Mohamad during a press conference at the KL Convention Centre (KLCC) on Sunday (May 25).
Mohamad was speaking to reporters after chairing the 36th Asean Coordinating Council (ACC) meeting.
Presently, the Special Envoy to Myanmar is Tan Sri Othman Hashim, who is the former human rights commission (Suhakam) chairman.
Mohamad said he will be heading to Naypyidaw, Myanmar in June to meet with the military junta.
'As chair of Asean, I am going to talk to them further. We have to be patient, because the warring factions have been against each other for decades.
'It is not as simple as what we think,' said Mohamad.
Mohamad said Malaysia does not want to interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs, as it is the Asean policy of non-interference.
But, Mohamad said the ongoing Myanmar issue has caused transnational crimes and a refugee crisis affecting neighbouring countries.
'That is why, many Asean countries agreed to deal with the Myanmar issue,' added Mohamad.
The Myanmar civil war, which was sparked by the coup d'état by its military junta in February 2021, has created lawless border regions that have allowed criminal syndicates to set up 'scam-parks', where foreign nationals are trafficked into the country and force to commit online scams.
Leaders in the region will meet during the 46th Asean Summit on May 26 and the summits with the Gulf Cooperation Council and China on May 27.
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