“Myanmar’s willingness to address the criticism head-on is a change of tact for the country, as was the change in Malaysia’s tone in dealing with Myanmar.” the foreign ministry said in a statement today.
It was responding to a comment piece in FMT, “Myanmar’s Snub to Malaysia’s Megaphone Diplomacy”, by Azrul Mohd Khalib on Dec 12.
The statement said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was prepared to discuss with his Myanmar counterpart, Aung San Suu Kyi, on how Malaysia could “assist Myanmar in finding a just, expeditious and durable solution to the protracted issue in the northern Rakhine state”.
In talking about the recent rally protesting the atrocities in Myanmar against the Rohingyas, and where Prime Minister Najib Razak had voiced strong condemnation, Azrul had suggested better results could have been expected if a more diplomatic approach had been taken.
He had said: “Arguably, the recent actions of the government jeopardise any further possibility of Malaysia playing a credible part or sincere role in ensuring a long-term resolution to what is happening in Rakhine State.”
Rebutting this, the foreign ministry said it believed that “it is due to Malaysia’s vocal position on the issue” that Myanmar had now come forward to host the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.
The foreign ministry went on to explain why Putrajaya was taking such a strong stand.
Malaysia, it said, was concerned that if the crisis in northern Rakhine State was not addressed urgently by the Myanmar government, it would impact the security and stability of the region, including Malaysia.
“The exodus of more refugees to neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, would witness a repeat of the 2015 boat people crisis.
In fact, it said, during the 2015 boat people crisis, Malaysia played an instrumental role by convening a tripartite meeting with Indonesia and Thailand at Wisma Putra in May that year.
A this meeting, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to provide humanitarian assistance and temporary shelter to 7,000 boat people stranded along the three countries’ maritime borders while awaiting resettlement or repatriation.
“Malaysia’s leading role in this instance led to a resolution of the crisis and saved innocent lives,” it said.
The statement went on to say: “That is why Malaysia views the current situation in the northern Rakhine state as no longer an ‘internal affair’ but one of regional consequence.”
It noted that Asean, as a community of nations, had a responsibility to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples in accordance with the Asean Charter and the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Asean Human Rights Declaration.
“It is in this context that Malaysia, as an Asean member state, is taking a strong position on the issue. Malaysia needs to speak out on issues regarding gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms as it is the right thing to do,” the statement added.