World cannot stay quiet on Myanmar, Russia-Ukraine, North Korea and Palestine, says PM

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has called on the international community to address the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar, Russia-Ukraine, North Korea, and Palestine. He expressed concern over North Korea’s continuous launch of ballistic missiles and violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding its nuclear program. Anwar also emphasized that ASEAN cannot overlook the issues in Myanmar.

He highlighted the significant number of refugees from Myanmar, stating that ASEAN must not ignore the concerns of neighboring countries in the region. Anwar further stated that Malaysia rejects regression in Ukraine and advocates for meaningful dialogue to achieve a fair resolution.

However, he acknowledged the concerns raised privately by many about the disproportionate treatment in Ukraine and the 75-year conflict in occupied Palestinian territory. The 11th East Asia Summit, held alongside the 43rd ASEAN Summit, provided an opportunity for direct diplomacy between prominent leaders like US Vice President Kamala Harris, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Anwar emphasized that the international community cannot disregard Israel’s continuous assault on the rights, livelihood, and dignity of Palestinians. He also highlighted the global rise of fascism and Islamophobia, reaffirming Malaysia’s position that defamation of any religion infringes on human rights and the right to religion and belief.

During the summit, Anwar called for leaders to collectively resolve these issues. He emphasized the need for EAS participating countries to strengthen their commitment to the fundamental principles of EAS in light of prevailing geopolitical dynamics.

In order to preserve peace, prosperity, and stability in the Asia-Pacific and Indian regions, Anwar urged partners to work together with ASEAN in implementing the four key areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific: maritime cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and economic cooperation.