KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has urged Asean to take a clear and united stance on the atrocities in Gaza, warning that silence in the face of injustice undermines the bloc’s credibility and moral responsibility.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Asean cannot remain passive on matters of global significance, stressing the need to defend the oppressed and uphold international law.
“Asean cannot remain silent. We have a voice in world affairs, and we must use our voice to speak up for the oppressed, and offer solutions grounded in principles and international law,” he said in his opening remarks at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Bernama reported.
Mohamad said the ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza, which he described as causing mass starvation and death, reflected the failure of the international community to uphold legal and moral standards.
“The atrocities committed against the Palestinian people continue to reflect indifference and double standards…they are a direct result of the erosion of the sanctity of international law,” he said.
He also cited the conflict in Myanmar as another test of Asean’s resolve, calling for a unified response to regional and global crises alike.
At the regional level, he noted Asean’s swift humanitarian response to the recent earthquake affecting Myanmar and Thailand, saying it demonstrated the bloc’s core values of unity and compassion.
“We call on the stakeholders in Myanmar to cease hostilities, and to extend and expand the ceasefire, to facilitate the long and difficult path towards recovery, and ease the suffering of the people of Myanmar,” he said.
He stressed that such crises show the need for Asean to remain proactive, both in facing internal challenges and navigating global uncertainties.
Mohamad also warned that Asean’s stability is increasingly being shaped by the strategic rivalry between the United States and China, as well as the economic disruptions caused by their ongoing trade conflict.
He noted that Asean countries are among those hardest hit by the tariffs imposed by the US, particularly on goods flowing through regional supply chains.
“Superpower competition and the resulting shifts in the global order have the potential to disrupt the regional landscape,” he said, urging Asean to take a collective and active role in addressing these risks.
“We must seize this moment to deepen regional economic integration so that we can better shield our region from external shocks.”
He added that narrowing the development and income gaps within the bloc must be seen as a strategic priority to ensure the region’s long-term resilience.
“As we advance our community-building efforts, we must confront the reality, that reducing the income disparities within Asean must be viewed as a priority.”
Malaysia is hosting the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits from May 26 to 27 at the KLCC, under the 2025 chairmanship theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” Mohamad is chairing the closed-door ministerial meetings ahead of the main summit. – May 25, 2025