Thailand, Malaysia propose joint recovery plan for post-quake Myanmar

Daily Express

26-05-2025

Thailand, Malaysia propose joint recovery plan for post-quake Myanmar
Kuala Lumpur:
Thailand and Malaysia have proposed a joint recovery framework to help Myanmar rebuild after the devastating earthquake that struck the country earlier this year, according to a senior Thai official.
Dusit Manapan, an adviser to the Thai foreign minister, said the proposal involved the collaboration of the Myanmar government, Asean, and international organisations under the coordination of the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
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'The first phase – search and rescue – has finished. Now, we are entering the next phase, which is the recovery phase. This requires more resources (and) intensive (efforts), both financially and technically,' Dusit told FMT on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit and related summits here.
'We have been considering a model which fits the need in the areas in Myanmar.'
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However, he cautioned that the full process would likely be long and complex, given the impact of the earthquake which had severely affected many areas.
As Asean chair this year, Malaysia is leading regional humanitarian efforts in Myanmar, while Thailand, which shares a border with Myanmar, is deeply invested in its recovery due to the spillover effects of the crisis.
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Humanitarian works in Myanmar are under close watch amid concerns over political instability in the country following the 2021 military coup.
However, officials stress that the current efforts are focused purely on humanitarian grounds, separate from the bloc's ongoing political engagement with the junta and other stakeholders.
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Dusit also revealed that the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines were planning a joint visit to Myanmar to assess the impact of ongoing disaster relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar in March.
He said the visit, agreed upon during yesterday's Regional Forum Security Policy Conference, would also serve as a chance to engage with the Myanmar government on challenging political issues.
'We are hopeful that Asean can have a frank and candid discussion with the leaders of the Myanmar government on very challenging issues like the announced (general) elections and what we can ask Myanmar to do before announcing the elections,' he said.
When asked about the long-stalled five-point consensus (5PC) brokered by Asean in 2021, Dusit was blunt: 'To be frank, I haven't seen much progress in implementing the 5PC.'
He also questioned moves to limit high-level engagement with Myanmar's military leaders, saying that refusing to talk could make the peace process even more challenging.
'If we choose not to engage with them, how can we achieve results? That's why I think that engagement is very important,' he said.
'Thailand believes in constructive engagement. We must engage constructively with all stakeholders and try to bring them into the talks.'