Asean unity remains strong, 5-point consensus still relevant, says sec-gen
Asean secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn said the grouping's strength lies in its unity and centrality role in the region. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : Asean secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn has reaffirmed that the regional bloc remains united and committed to its centrality and solidarity, even amid growing external pressures and persistent challenges such as the South China Sea dispute and the Myanmar crisis.
Speaking to the media ahead of the 46th Asean Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kao said the commitment was demonstrated when Asean foreign ministers, who met in four separate meetings yesterday, collectively reiterated that Asean's strength lies in its unity and centrality role in the region.
'The message is very clear. Asean foreign ministers have not just emphasised unity, but also reaffirmed how Asean will continue working together during these very challenging times,' he said.
Kao, who is leading the Asean Secretariat delegation to the 46th summit, as well as the 2nd Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China summit, said the bloc has consistently maintained a united voice on regional and global issues when engaging both internally and with external partners.
On Malaysia's announcement that a delegation will be sent to Myanmar to resume engagement with stakeholders there, Kao said this reflects the active role of the Asean chair and the special envoy on Myanmar.
'We've seen that under Malaysia's chairmanship this year, the country has been very proactive and consistent in leading Asean, especially in efforts to engage Myanmar,' he said.
He cited Malaysia's swift response to Myanmar's recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake as a key example of this leadership. In coordination with Thailand, Malaysia initiated a special Asean foreign ministers' meeting to discuss the delivery of assistance.
'The meeting was convened promptly to coordinate a common Asean response. Following that, we've seen the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar both collectively and individually by member states,' he said.
He said Asean continues to play a key role in mobilising regional and external support, channelling it through Asean-coordinated platforms.
On the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, Kao said Asean remains firm in its position.
'We want to see a long-term ceasefire, non-violence, inclusive political dialogue, and an escalation in humanitarian assistance to help the people of Myanmar affected by both the political crisis and the recent natural disaster,' he said.
Asked whether Asean would press Myanmar's military junta to hold direct talks with the national unity government and other stakeholders, Kao reiterated the bloc's position by saying: 'We want to see an inclusive political dialogue that involves all key stakeholders.
'What I've observed is that Malaysia has been quite forthcoming in exercising leadership, with the support of Asean member states.'
Despite growing concerns over external influence and internal discord, he said, Asean's consistency, cohesion and commitment to regional peace and stability remain unwavering.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Myanmar junta extends ceasefire again after quake
YANGON: Myanmar's junta has extended a post-earthquake truce, after the expiry of a previous humanitarian ceasefire it was accused of flouting with a continued campaign of air strikes. The junta initially declared a truce in the many-sided civil war after a huge quake in late March killed nearly 3,800 people and left tens of thousands homeless. The truce has been extended before, although conflict monitors say fighting has continued, including regular air strikes. A statement from the junta information team on Saturday said there would be an extension of the armistice – which expired May 31 – until June 30. This would "facilitate rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in earthquake-affected areas", it said in the statement. It added that the state was "intensively engaging in reconstruction of damaged government offices and departments, public residences and transport facilities." The ceasefire would also allow the country to hold "a free and fair multi-party democracy general election", according to the statement. The country's junta chief said earlier this year that a long-promised election will be held by January, the first in the war-torn nation since the military staged a coup in 2021. In the statement, the military also warned it would still strike back against any offensives by the array of ethnic armed groups and anti-coup fighters. The announcement comes after Malaysian foreign minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan used a regional meeting last week to call for the extension and expansion of a ceasefire "beyond the currently affected zones." Malaysia currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The bloc has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to end Myanmar's conflict since the junta deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.--AFP
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Accepting Tengku Zafrul into PKR opens door to uncertainty, says Rafizi
Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the criticisms levelled by Umno leaders against Tengku Zafrul Aziz were valid and deserve the attention of the unity government's leaders. KUALA LUMPUR : Accepting Tengku Zafrul Aziz into PKR will open the door to uncertainty in the cooperation among the unity government's components, says former party deputy president Rafizi Ramli. He said nothing in the draft unity government agreement, drawn up before its formation, forbids its components' leaders from joining other parties. 'This will need to be discussed among unity government components because this is a grey area. '(However, accepting Tengku Zafrul) should be avoided because it opens the door to uncertainty. 'Where do you draw the line when Umno leaders criticise (the move)?' he told reporters in Ampang today. When asked if PKR should also be open to its leaders moving to other parties, should it accept Tengku Zafrul into its ranks, Rafizi said the party's top leaders should come forward to explain the party's stance. He said the criticisms levelled by Umno leaders against Tengku Zafrul were valid and deserve the attention of the unity government's leaders. Earlier, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said it is 'very inappropriate for any party in the unity government to arbitrarily accept members from other allied parties'. 'This is to prevent causing disharmony among the parties in the unity government. This could lead to continuous prejudice and suspicion among grassroots members about the level of loyalty, sincerity and honesty that we have,' he said. Umno's legal bureau has also been asked to look into the implications of Tengku Zafrul's exit from the party in terms of the party hopping law and on his status as senator. The party's information chief, Azalina Othman Said, said while Umno respects a person's right to make political choices, Cabinet appointments are based on the party represented instead of one's individual capacity. She said while the prime minister chairs the national unity council, Cabinet ministers are appointed as the party's representatives. On Friday, Tengku Zafrul said he had submitted his resignation as an Umno member as well as from all party posts. He said he had informed PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and secretary-general Fuziah Salleh of his intention to join PKR.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
No official discussions on Tengku Zafrul's PKR application yet, says PM
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised Tengku Zafrul Aziz, saying he had handled well his duties as investment, trade and industry minister. PETALING JAYA : There have been no official discussions on Tengku Zafrul Aziz's application to join PKR, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, he said Tengku Zafrul's position as investment, trade and industry minister would not be affected. 'We have not discussed anything yet. Let him fulfil his haj first. We don't need unhealthy speculation,' he said. Anwar praised Tengku Zafrul, saying he had handled his duties as minister well. 'We have hundreds of billions in investments, much of them managed by him with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, his ministry and the government,' he said. Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul said he had decided to leave his fate as a Cabinet minister to Anwar, following his exit from Umno. He reiterated that his decision to leave Umno was not easy, but was made after careful consideration of various factors. 'I would like to focus on my haj pilgrimage, and I leave the matter entirely to the wisdom of the prime minister,' he said. Tengku Zafrul was recently urged by Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to step down from the Cabinet after deciding to leave Umno. Yesterday, Umno president and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also urged Anwar to ensure that Umno retains its quota of seven ministers in the Cabinet. With Tengku Zafrul's exit from Umno, the party is left with six members in the Cabinet – Zahid, Mohamad Hasan, Johari Ghani, Khaled Nordin, Zambry Abdul Kadir and Azalina Othman Said.
