Follow Malaysia’s lead on engaging with Myanmar’s NUG, Asean nations told

© Provided by Free Malaysia Today Myanmar’s military junta has slammed a proposal by Malaysia for Asean nations to engage with the NUG. (AP pic)

PETALING JAYA: Asean countries have been urged to follow Malaysia’s lead and back a proposal for the bloc to engage with the National Unity Government (NUG) in Myanmar.

In a statement, Charles Santiago, who is the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights chairman, said countries in the region should ignore the Myanmar military junta’s views on the proposal.

This comes after the junta, known as the State Administration Council (SAC), slammed a proposal by foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah for Asean to engage with the NUG, especially when it comes to humanitarian relief.

Myanmar’s foreign ministry labelled it as being “irresponsible and reckless”, which could “abet terrorism and violence” in the country”.

Describing the SAC’s response as “outrageous”, the Klang MP said its remarks against Putrajaya’s proposal showed its “nervousness” in the face of increasing international isolation.

“It is especially galling that Myanmar’s SAC dares to describe Saifuddin’s proposal as irresponsible and reckless,” said Santiago.

“A junta that has staged a coup d’état against a democratically elected government, has thrown Myanmar into chaos and is committing all kinds of atrocities against the population of the country to consolidate its power, utterly lacks any moral authority to make such accusations.”

Myanmar has come under control of the military junta since Feb 1, 2021, after a coup d’état overthrew Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government.