Malaysia minister to seek clarity from Myanmar on election, state media reports
Myanmar has been in chaos since a 2021 military coup against an elected civilian government plunged the country into civil war.
Last week, the junta lifted a nationwide state of emergency and nominally transferred power to a civilian-led government ahead of the election, although the junta chief remained in charge of the country in his other role as acting president.
"I want to obtain a clearer picture (of the elections) to bring to the attention of ASEAN leaders in October," Mohamad said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping, Malaysian state news agency Bernama reported.
Mohamad, who will be accompanied by his counterparts from Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia for the trip on September 19, wanted clarity on whether Myanmar would hold a comprehensive election, Bernama reported.
Myanmar state media has reported that martial law and a state of emergency would be imposed in more than 60 townships across nine regions and states, with voting to be held in December and January.
Last month, Mohamad said ASEAN had agreed that an election in Myanmar was not a priority and urged the junta to adhere to the grouping's "five-point consensus" peace plan instead.
Myanmar is an ASEAN member, but its generals have been barred from attending the bloc's key meetings since 2022 for failing to honour the peace plan. Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN.
Myanmar's election has been dismissed by Western governments as a sham to entrench the generals' power and is expected to be dominated by proxies of the military, with opposition groups either barred from running or refusing to take part.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
A Japanese Anime Is Indonesia's Surprise Protest Symbol
A Japanese anime has unexpectedly become a symbol of resistance in Indonesia, as young people lean into popular culture to speak out against corruption and ineffective governance. The viral protests come as space for dissent in the world's third-largest democracy shrinks. Young Indonesians are using the nation's 80th independence anniversary on Aug. 17 to mark their dissatisfaction with President Prabowo Subianto's government. Elected in 2024, he still enjoys enviable approval ratings, but disenchantment with his administration is growing in the archipelago once heralded as the poster child of democratic transformation in Southeast Asia. In the last decade though, that progress has stalled.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pat Dugan will run against Larry Krasner again for Philadelphia District Attorney
The Brief Pat Dugan says he will be running for Philadelphia's district attorney in the General Election. He will be facing incumbent Larry Krasner for a second time. The former judge and registered Democrat will be running as a Republican. PHILADELPHIA - Former Municipal Court Judge Pat Dugan has announced that he will file to run for Philadelphia district attorney in November's General Election, challenging Larry Krasner a second time. What we know Incumbent Larry Krasner defeated Dugan in the democratic primary election back in May after securing about 60 percent of the votes. Dugan, a registered Democrat, says he will appear as a Republican in the General Election after receiving over 6,000 write-in votes. Philadelphia Republicans had failed to back a candidate for the first time in decades, which all but ensured Krasner would remain the city's top prosecutor. The backstory Krasner is running for his third term as district attorney. After securing the democratic primary win in May, Krasner shared a message for any would-be Republican challenger who emerges before Election Day. "If it should turn out that I have a Republican opponent…I have a question for that opponent and his rich friends from far away, and that question is: Which part don't you like? The safety or the fairness," Krasner said in his victory speech back in May. Dugan, a municipal court judge for 17 years, previously said he ran for district attorney because he believes "the city needs to be much safer than it has been." "I care about the city as a lifelong Philadelphian," he said. "I want my grandbabies to feel safe, I want the citizens of Philadelphia's children to feel safe." The Source Information from this article was provided by the Pat Dugan campaign and previous reporting by FOX 29 Philadelphia.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Bernie Sanders calls out Kamala Harris' campaign for being 'heavily influenced by wealthy people'
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called out former Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign on Sunday for being influenced by wealthy people in 2024 and failing to speak to working families. CNN's "State of the Union" host Dana Bash pressed Sanders on a statement he made on one of his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour stops about the former vice president. Bash played a clip of Sanders telling the crowd, "One of the reasons, in my view, that Kamala Harris lost this election is she had too many billionaires telling her not to speak up for the working-class of this country." The CNN host reacted to the clip and said, "ouch." "I like her, she's a friend of mine, but her core consultants, you know, were heavily influenced by very wealthy people. How do you run for president and not develop a strong agenda which speaks to the economic crises facing working families?" Sanders asked. "You know, more income and wealth inequality today than we've ever had. You have 60% of our people living paycheck to paycheck. You've got a healthcare system which is broken and dysfunctional — and despite spending so much — we're the only major country not to guarantee health care to all people. How do you not talk about these issues?" Sanders continued. Bash pushed back and said Harris talked about affordability. Sanders argued that Harris talked about it vaguely, but said he didn't want to rehash the 2024 campaign. "I think the clue to Democratic victories is to understand that you've got to stand unequivocally with the working class of this country. You need an agenda that speaks to the needs of working people," Sanders said. He went on to call for guaranteed healthcare for all Americans and an increased minimum wage. "Is it [a] radical idea to say that in the midst of a competitive global economy, we need to make sure we have the best educated workforce that all of our kids, regardless of income, should be able to get a higher education? These ideas exist all over the world. They don't exist in America, and they don't exist because of the power of the oligarchs, economically and politically," he said. The senator called America's political system "broken and corrupt." Sanders was also asked if he planned to run for president again in 2028. "Oh, god. Let's not worry about that. I am going to be 84 years of age next month, as a matter of fact. So I think that speaks for itself. But right now, what is more important in my view — and I want to see, obviously, the most progressive candidate that we can have — is to rally the grassroots of America," he said.
