Your Excellencies, colleagues and friends.
I reiterate Malaysia’s condolences and sympathies to the people of Myanmar, Thailand and those in the surrounding region who were impacted and affected by the recent devastating earthquake. The loss of lives and suffering endured by communities in the aftermath of this natural disaster weigh heavily on all of us.
Malaysia welcomes and supports the statements by the ASEAN foreign ministers on 29 and 30 March 2025 reaffirming the importance of a safe and conducive environment in Myanmar to ensure the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance, to facilitate relief efforts, and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need in a timely and effective manner without disruption and discrimination.
In response to the disaster and as an expression of regional solidarity, Malaysia has mobilised humanitarian aid and assistance through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and relevant national agencies to Myanmar, including the deployment of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), for immediate search and rescue efforts in the affected areas, and the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies.
ASEAN and the global community have responded swiftly, decisively and compassionately, and this must continue. In the hour of greatest need, we must show that our solidarity is not merely a principle but involves action. While acknowledging the quick response of the authorities and the global community in mobilising rescue and relief efforts; it is important that humanitarian assistance reaches all affected communities and areas without delay, ensuring the protection of human rights amidst the disaster response.
The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration 2012 guarantee that every person has the right to food, medical care, safe drinking water and sanitation, and the highest attainable standard of health, health-care services, and access to medical facilities. Measures taken to provide essential medical care and health-care services, and access to medical facilities should prioritise vulnerable and marginalised groups including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Article 38 of the AHRD guarantees that all peoples of ASEAN have the right to enjoy peace within an ASEAN framework of security, stability, neutrality, and freedom. Given the circumstances, we reiterate the call for all conflicting parties to immediately and unilaterally cease violence and exercise the utmost restraint while allowing for safe and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and relief services to all affected communities and areas. Secure and safe spaces should also be provided to ensure the dignity and lives of the people of Myanmar will be protected. ASEAN engagement should be also strengthened for this purpose. In particular, for aid to be distributed effectively and assistance to be provided expeditiously, aid workers and personnel should be protected from any harm. It is logical that aid cannot be provided when violence still occurs.
This compels us as AICHR, given our position as the overarching human rights body in the region, to play and assert its rightful and proper role in ASEAN to ensure that the continued aid and support to affected survivors and victims are grounded on human rights and humanitarian principles.
In relation to the unfortunate disaster that has struck Myanmar coupled with the unstable environment and continuing conflict in Myanmar, Malaysia strongly encourages ASEAN member states and sectoral bodies to consider the following principles, among others, as part of a concept that can be shared widely to further demonstrate our solidarity collectively:
1. International humanitarian standards and laws, as applicable, contained in the relevant ASEAN agreements and instruments related to disaster management and humanitarian response are observed and respected.
2. That there be rapid, safe, inclusive, transparent, and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance and aid, and recovery measures to be provided and conducted.
3. That humanitarian assistance and aid, and recovery measures are implemented with full respect for human rights consistent with the AHRD and other ASEAN agreements and instruments related to disaster management and humanitarian response.
4. That non-discriminatory, gender-sensitive, and inclusive approaches are integrated in all phases of humanitarian and recovery measures.
5. That there be a humanitarian pause, including an extension of the ceasefire and cessation of violence by all conflicting parties and stakeholders to enable continuous and long-term delivery of humanitarian assistance and aid, and the conduct of recovery measures.
6. That the humanitarian pause, ceasefire and cessation of violence could also serve as the opportunity to resume inclusive dialogues among all parties and stakeholders.
7. That there be safe, timely, and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance and aid, and recovery measures to be comprehensive and effective.
8. That humanitarian personnel, officials, and responders as well as humanitarian assets are protected at all times.
9. That there be the sharing of accurate and timely information to facilitate continuous and effective humanitarian responses.
10. That an independent monitoring and reporting mechanism be allowed and facilitated so as to identify and help resolve humanitarian constraints in a neutral, impartial, and constructive manner.
For this purpose, Malaysia proposes that a common position be taken on these issues, and puts forward a paper for further deliberations of AICHR pursuant to its mandate.
Secondly, in light of the growing geopolitical challenges that threaten our regional peace and ASEAN economies, we need to stand firm on our convictions. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed, divided and dictated by external powers. We must not and should not be bullied by them, and we must speak with one voice, confidently and with a clear sense of purpose. AICHR must assert its place in ASEAN to forge a common path based on our shared values and aspirations.
ASEAN’s future lies in its ability to lead, not just regionally, but globally, and we should elevate ASEAN and AICHR’s position as a global reference point for multilateralism, partnership and peace. As the Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on 8 April at the 2025 ASEAN Investment Conference: “[I]f ASEAN can hold its nerve — staying open, pragmatic and cohesive — it may yet be among the last believers in a world that works better when it works together”.
We need to stand together as one to define ASEAN’s direction and future.
Thank you.
This statement was delivered to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) on Agenda Item No. 14.1 on Recent Developments in ASEAN on 10 April 2025, at the Special Meeting 1/2025 of AICHR held in Penang, Malaysia from 8 to 10 April 2025. The press release on the Special Meeting 1/2025 can be accessed here.
