Is Muhyiddin Yassin and Perikatan Nasional legitimising the Junta coup?
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) Secretariat in a statement today questioned the recent meeting held between Malaysia Ambassador to Myanmar, Datuk Zahairi Baharim with a member of the military junta government. This was after several news reports spotted the ambassador in an official meeting with the junta’s Electricity and Energy Minister Aung Than Oo on 7 April 2021 in Naypyidaw.
The PH Secretariat statement which was signed by PKR’s Shamsul Iskandar, AMANAH’s Khalid Samad and DAP’s Liew Chin Tong demanded Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to explain the meeting as it raises serious questions regarding Malaysia’s stance on the Myanmar junta coup.
The statement asserted,
“The public is well aware that the government legitimately chosen by the people of Myanmar has been overthrown by the Myanmar Junta or Tatmadaw in a coup on 1 February 2021.”
Furthermore, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had previously called for the junta’s political prisoners and detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyii to be immediately released. He even urged for the convening of an emergency ASEAN summit to discuss the situation in Myanmar after the coup was held. However, the action by Malaysia’s Ambassador to Myanmar clearly contradicted Muhyiddin’s statement, especially since all the requests by the latter are yet to materialise.
Hence, the PH Secretariat views the meeting with the Myanmar junta as creating a perception that Malaysia recognises the coup. Furthermore, this whole incident does not help the efforts to restore democracy in Myanmar.
The statement then stressed,
“The meeting between Malaysia Ambassador with Myanmar junta, especially when Malaysia’s stance in the issue of political detainees and emergency ASEAN summit haven’t changed has created a perception that Malaysia recognises the junta government.”
Kenyataan media Majlis Setiausaha Pakatan Harapan pada 8 April 2021: “Duta Besar Malaysia Bertemu Junta: Menteri Luar Negeri Perlu Jelaskan”
Posted by Pakatan Harapan on Thursday, 8 April 2021
The PH Secretariat thus demands for Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to clarify and explain the incident as to not jeopardise our international relations. – The Rocket.
