KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should develop a new framework to tackle the crisis in Myanmar when it takes on the Asean chairmanship next year.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) said this was necessary as the existing five-point consensus (5PC), which sought an immediate and peaceful resolution to the crisis, was no longer effective.
Saifuddin, who is a former foreign minister, said the addressing of the crisis should be championed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as there was a need for a shift in Asean's narrative regarding the situation.
"I would like to propose that the prime minister becomes the champion for resolving the Myanmar crisis as (Malaysia takes on) the Asean chair (next year).
"The junta is becoming weaker and the people's revolution is gaining power. Therefore, Malaysia, in its capacity as Asean chair, should reach out to the National Unity Government (NUG), the National Consultative Council (NUCC) and stakeholders representing the people.
"We need to present a new framework because the 5PC has unfortunately failed," he said when debating the 2025 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Previously, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said collective efforts through an Asean approach were crucial in addressing the Myanmar issue, particularly concerning the humanitarian crisis and the oppression of Muslims, including the Rohingya.
He added that as Malaysia was assuming the Asean chairmanship, the Troika mechanism would continue to be strengthened with necessary actions based on the 5PC.
Currently, Malaysia, Laos and Indonesia are continuing the "Troika" mechanism in the effort to restore democracy in Myanmar.
The Troika is a concept of rotating chairmanship to ensure that certain issues are continuously discussed in the grouping.
On a separate matter, Saifuddin suggested that the country's digital infrastructure be placed under the Digital Ministry, rather than the Communications Ministry.
"The authority over digital infrastructure and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) needs to be restructured, and related roles should be transferred to the Digital Ministry.
"It is unreasonable for the Digital Ministry, which has been mandated to manage all matters related to the country's digital landscape, to have no mandate over digital infrastructure," he said.