Latest news with #OthmanHashim
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
ASEAN ministers praise special envoy's inclusive Myanmar efforts
KUALA LUMPUR: ASEAN foreign ministers have praised the efforts of Tan Sri Othman Hashim, the ASEAN Chair's Special Envoy on Myanmar, for his inclusive approach in engaging diverse stakeholders to address the ongoing crisis. The recognition came in a joint communique issued after the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Othman, appointed in January, has actively worked with ASEAN member states, dialogue partners, Myanmar's neighbours, and humanitarian organisations. The ministers noted his role in fostering dialogue to find a sustainable resolution. 'This inclusive engagement reflects ASEAN's commitment to collaborative efforts in addressing the complex challenges in Myanmar,' the statement read. The former Foreign Ministry secretary-general is the fifth special envoy appointed since Myanmar's 2021 military coup. The ministers also expressed deep concern over escalating conflicts and worsening humanitarian conditions, urging all parties to halt violence and protect civilians. They reaffirmed the Five-Point Consensus as the key framework for resolving Myanmar's crisis and agreed to review its implementation ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit. Additionally, they condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure, calling for restraint to enable humanitarian aid and dialogue. The AHA Centre's progress in delivering aid under the Five-Point Consensus was also welcomed. - Bernama
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Asean Foreign Ministers to review implementation of Five-Point Consensus
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean Foreign Ministers will conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC). They said they would submit the recommendations from their review to the 47th Asean Summit. "We also agreed to task our senior officials with exploring new strategies to ensure continuity in the role of the Asean Special Envoy on Myanmar," they said in a joint statement. They also expressed deep concern over the escalation of conflict and the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, and encouraged continued progress on the 5PC. They reaffirmed their united position that the 5PC remains the main reference for addressing the political crisis in Myanmar. "We denounced the continued acts of violence against civilians and public facilities, and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence, exercise utmost restraint, ensure the protection and safety of all civilians and civilian infrastructure, and create a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue. "In this regard, we reaffirmed the Asean Leaders' Statement on an Extended and Expanded Ceasefire in Myanmar. "We also welcomed continued progress in the provision of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar by the AHA Centre in support of Point 4 of the Asean Leaders' 5PC." They also commended the dedicated efforts of the Special Envoy of the Asean Chair, Tan Sri Othman Hashim, for his work in engaging a wide and diverse range of Myanmar stakeholders to find an inclusive solution to the crisis. "This inclusive engagement reflects Asean's commitment to collaborative efforts in addressing the complex challenges in Myanmar." Myanmar has been in turmoil since early 2021, when the military ousted an elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a protest movement that morphed into an armed rebellion against the junta across the country.
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Asean Foreign Ministers to review Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean Foreign Ministers will conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC). They said they would submit the recommendations from their review to the 47th Asean Summit. "We also agreed to task our senior officials with exploring new strategies to ensure continuity in the role of the Asean Special Envoy on Myanmar," they said in a joint statement. They also expressed deep concern over the escalation of conflict and the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, and encouraged continued progress on the 5PC. They reaffirmed their united position that the 5PC remains the main reference for addressing the political crisis in Myanmar. "We denounced the continued acts of violence against civilians and public facilities, and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence, exercise utmost restraint, ensure the protection and safety of all civilians and civilian infrastructure, and create a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue. "In this regard, we reaffirmed the Asean Leaders' Statement on an Extended and Expanded Ceasefire in Myanmar. "We also welcomed continued progress in the provision of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar by the AHA Centre in support of Point 4 of the Asean Leaders' 5PC." They also commended the dedicated efforts of the Special Envoy of the Asean Chair, Tan Sri Othman Hashim, for his work in engaging a wide and diverse range of Myanmar stakeholders to find an inclusive solution to the crisis. "This inclusive engagement reflects Asean's commitment to collaborative efforts in addressing the complex challenges in Myanmar." Myanmar has been in turmoil since early 2021, when the military ousted an elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a protest movement that morphed into an armed rebellion against the junta across the country.
Free Malaysia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Asean envoy to Myanmar needs permanent office, says expert
Myanmar's military junta has been engaged in violent conflicts with various ethnic groups, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis after an earthquake in March led to 3 million people being displaced. (EPA Images pic) PETALING JAYA : Asean should set up a permanent office to support the appointment of an Asean special envoy to Myanmar, according to an international affairs expert. Johan Saravanamuttu of Universiti Malaya's Asia-Europe Institute said the office of the permanent envoy could be housed within the Asean Secretariat, where the envoy would have access to dedicated resources and support staff. Asean leaders are reported to have agreed last week to appoint a full-time permanent special envoy to focus exclusively on Myanmar's ongoing crisis. Johan said the current system of rotating special envoys forces unnecessary handovers as the role passes from one country to another. Johan Saravanamuthu. He said Malaysia, as the Asean chair for 2025, has to provide all the services to its special envoy, Othman Hashim, who was appointed in January. The next special envoy for Myanmar will be from the Philippines, which takes over as the next Asean chair. 'So the Malaysian-appointed envoy will then have to report to the Philippines-appointed envoy and tell them this is what we have done, and so on,' he added. He said Indonesia, as Asean chair in 2023, had held over 250 meetings with various parties about Myanmar. 'All records should be transferred to the permanent office to maintain institutional memory,' said Johan. Johan said the principle of quiet diplomacy, as espoused by prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, will remain despite the appointment of a permanent envoy, who will continue facilitating discreet negotiations with Myanmar's conflicting parties without premature public announcements. 'As of now, there is no appetite to have any kind of dialogue between the State Administrative Council (SAC), the military leaders and the resistance groups,' he said. 'So we hope that, at some point, the special envoy will be able to bring some level of dialogue between the different groups, in a sense, and also to have some kind of dialogue with the junta as to how we could progress towards a peaceful resolution of conflicts.' Asean's approach to Myanmar since the 2021 military coup has faced criticism for being slow and ineffective. The bloc's Five-Point Consensus, which includes appointing a special envoy to engage with all stakeholders, remains the cornerstone of its peace efforts. Yazid Zul Kepli. Regional security analyst Yazid Zul Kepli recommended complementing quiet diplomacy with shuttle diplomacy and humanitarian coordination through Track 1.5 or Track 2 dialogues, which involve officials, academics, NGOs, and civil society actors. 'These formats allow for informal exchanges to build trust and explore solutions without the pressure of official negotiations,' he said. For success, Yazid stressed the envoy must have a strong regional mandate, be neutral, and be experienced in diplomacy. 'The envoy could also help manage Myanmar's spillover effects across the region, including transnational crime, job scam-related money laundering, and refugee displacement, by coordinating responses and engaging with law enforcement and humanitarian agencies,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Asean mulls permanent envoy to Myanmar on 3-year term
Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan at the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur today. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Asean foreign ministers are considering a proposal to appoint a permanent special envoy to handle the protracted Myanmar crisis, in a shift from the current practice of rotating the role annually among member states. Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said they had agreed to begin internal consultations on the proposal, which received broad support at the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AFMM) here today. 'To us, every year we have to change the special envoy, then we have to start all over again and there's no end to it. 'So, we have agreed that we want to explore (this proposal) … and nobody said otherwise. 'And it's just a matter of who is going to be the permanent special envoy, well, maybe for a three-year term,' he told a press conference after chairing the meeting. Under existing arrangements, the special envoy is appointed by the Asean chair on a yearly basis. As chair for 2025, Malaysia has named Othman Hashim as the bloc's fifth envoy since the February 2021 military coup that plunged Myanmar into political and humanitarian turmoil. When asked about whether Asean's non-interference policy limited its ability to handle the civil war in Myanmar, Mohamad reiterated that the 'Asean way' does not seek to meddle in the internal affairs of its member states. However, he said the Myanmar crisis has spilled over to neighbouring countries. 'We now have to deal with transnational crime, money laundering via job scams, millions of people being displaced and a growing refugee crisis. 'Malaysia itself is dealing with 200,000 Rohingya refugees. 'We are not trying to meddle in their affairs, but this has become an Asean issue,' he said.
