Press Release: MOFA made strong objections

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on 12 August, regarding with making strong objections to the remarks made by Malaysian Foreign Minister.

In the press release, it’s said that the Ministry made strong objections to the remarks made by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mr. Saifuddin Abdullah at the press conference in Bangkok on 10 August and at the ASEAN Day event held in Kuala Lumpur on 8 August.

The Ministry strongly objects irresponsible remarks by Malaysian Foreign Minister encouraging ASEAN Member States to engage with unlawful entities that are committing terrorist activities in Myanmar.

Such reckless comments are blatant attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of an ASEAN Member State by encouraging instability and acts of terrorism in the country, and those remarks are also in violation of the provisions of Article 2, paragraph 2(e) and (f) of the ASEAN Charter and of the Article 2, paragraph 7 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Malaysian Foreign Minister’s remark on bringing in non-ASEAN countries to the process of implementation of ASEAN five-point consensus is also inappropriate as it could undermine ASEAN centrality and can derail the works of Special Envoy of ASEAN Chair.

The Ministry strongly protests on the remarks by Malaysian Foreign Minister on alleged lack of cooperation by Myanmar in provision of humanitarian assistance by ASEAN which is in total ignorance to noticeable progress made by the ASEAN Coordinating Center on Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA center) in Myanmar and which also fail to recognize sincere efforts of Myanmar government in facilitating the works of AHA Center.

Any ASEAN Member State with genuine intention to see prevalence of peace and stability in Myanmar should avoid these kinds of remarks adversely affecting the national reconciliation in the country.

In this regard, the Ministry strongly protests and objects the irresponsible and repeated remarks of interference in the internal affairs of an ASEAN Member State by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.

The Ministry has sent a strong protest note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia on this matter.