PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is expected to make an announcement regarding the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar soon, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin. Speaking to Bernama after delivering the keynote address at a parallel session titled ‘ASEAN Chairmanship 2025: Malaysia’s Preparation’, Mohamad said the ministry anticipates that the announcement to be made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad emphasized that the special envoy has a significant role in seeking a lasting solution to the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. He highlighted the necessity for the envoy to visit Myanmar more frequently and engage with all parties involved. Continuous engagement sessions are seen as crucial for this role.
On November 7, Mohamad reportedly mentioned that Malaysia is in the final stages of appointing the special envoy. This envoy will be responsible for engaging all stakeholders in Myanmar to bring them to the table for nego
tiations and political dialogue, aiming for a sustainable resolution to the country’s prolonged conflict, which remains unresolved since the military coup on February 1, 2021. The appointment is part of ASEAN’s efforts to address the crisis, following the Five-Point Consensus agreed upon by regional leaders in April 2021.
As an ASEAN member state and the upcoming ASEAN Chair for 2025, Malaysia is committed to finding the best solution to the Myanmar crisis. Mohamad expressed optimism that if the efforts are successful, Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 could become a historic achievement.
He further explained that during Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship next year, a total of 297 meetings at various levels will be held across the country, starting in early January. In preparation, the Prime Minister has directed all ministries and agencies, along with strategic partners, to collaborate, pool resources, and share expertise to ensure a lasting positive impact from Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship.
The Prime Min
ister is also actively involved in overseeing the National Steering Committee (JPK), which has been established to plan and coordinate the preparation and implementation of the ASEAN Chairmanship through a comprehensive government approach. Malaysia has previously held the ASEAN Chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. ASEAN, founded on August 8, 1967, now comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.