Asean welcomes Gaza ceasefire efforts, urges unity and diplomacy as regional, global tensions test stability.
PETALING JAYA: Asean has welcomed early efforts to establish a cessation of violence in Gaza, describing it as a crucial step towards upholding international law and protecting human dignity.
Speaking at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the bloc remains deeply concerned over global conflicts and their potential impact on regional stability.
“The world has borne witness to the suffering endured by the Palestinians in Gaza, marked by devastating loss of life, mass displacement and the systematic erosion of hope and dignity,” he said.
He added that Asean views the first phase of United States President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict as “an important step towards realising the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign and independent state.”
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Mohamad stressed that while Asean continues to manage challenges within the region, it must not turn a blind eye to crises beyond its borders.
He also urged member states to remain guided by the Asean way, built on diplomacy, trust and consensus, as the grouping navigates growing geopolitical uncertainty.
“The border conflict between our neighbours this year has reminded us of the fragility of peace,” he said.
“Fortunately, thanks to tireless mediation efforts, tensions have since de-escalated. We commend both countries (Thailand and Cambodia) for choosing the path of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve their differences.”
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On Myanmar, Mohamad described reconciliation as a “long process” that must be led by the people of Myanmar and supported by Asean, a path grounded in trust, not coercion.
He cautioned that if the crisis remains unresolved, it could spill across borders in the form of “transnational crime, refugee flows and wider socioeconomic instability”.
Citing Asean’s swift humanitarian response to the deadly earthquake that struck Myanmar earlier this year, Mohamad said Malaysia remains committed to supporting recovery and peacebuilding efforts.
He also reaffirmed that despite global turbulence, Asean must remain firm, united and guided by the Asean way, with its diversity continuing to be “the region’s greatest source of strength”.
