MALAYSIA HOSTS SPECIAL EMERGENCY ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN MYANMAR AND THAILAND

Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, convened the Special Emergency ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Aftermath of Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, via video conference, on Sunday, 30 March 2025. The Meeting was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan. The Meeting was attended by ASEAN Foreign Ministers or their representatives, and the Foreign Minister of Timor Leste as Observer.

Also in attendance were Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn and Deputy Executive Director of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) Krishna Putra Tanaja, who briefed the meeting on ASEAN’s efforts, as well as developments on the ground following the earthquake.

The Meeting is an expression of ASEAN unity and solidarity. The Foreign Ministers reiterated heartfelt condolences and sympathies to Myanmar and Thailand and their peoples, in particular the victims, their families and all who were affected by the tragedy. They reaffirmed their strong support and solidarity with Myanmar and Thailand. They further stressed that the ASEAN Family stands resolutely with Myanmar and Thailand in moving forward to address the impacts of the earthquake. Myanmar and Thailand expressed their deep appreciation to the other Member States for their steadfast solidarity and compassion as well as proactive rendering of assistance for the urgent search and rescue operations.

The Foreign Ministers agreed to further mobilise humanitarian assistance, which will be coordinated by the AHA Centre and with regular updates from the Secretary-General of ASEAN. They further agreed that this tragedy highlights the urgent need for better regional disaster preparedness and resilience. In this regard, they reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening ASEAN’s disaster response mechanisms.

In his opening remarks, the Foreign Minister conveyed Malaysia’s deepest condolences and reaffirmed ASEAN’s collective commitment to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to both the affected countries. He also emphasised the readiness of the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) for immediate deployment, as ASEAN continues to monitor the situation and scale up its response.

Malaysia’s commitment towards rendering assistance is further reflected in the swift mobilisation of national resources. Earlier today, two Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) aircraft departed for Naypyidaw carrying 50 personnel from the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) and essential equipment to support search and rescue operations. The deployment is led by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), with the support of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Malaysia in Yangon. 

To further reinforce Malaysia’s support, the Foreign Minister will undertake a humanitarian mission to Myanmar in the coming days. The visit will serve to express Malaysia’s compassion and solidarity with the people of Myanmar and to coordinate additional assistance taking into account on-the-ground needs.

As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia reiterated the importance of swift, inclusive, and well-coordinated actions to address the urgent needs of those affected. Malaysia also thanks the commitment of support from ASEAN’s external partners and the global community. Malaysia welcomed further assistance from the international community and encouraged them to channel their support through the AHA Centre to ensure effective coordination and aid delivery.

During the meeting, Malaysia called for all parties to cease hostilities and violence so as to ensure safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need effectively and to also ensure the safety of the humanitarian personnel. This was supported by the other Foreign Ministers.

Malaysia will continue to work closely with the other ASEAN Member States as well as regional and international partners to provide comprehensive support to Myanmar and Thailand, guided by the priorities identified by these countries.

This is not just a moment of shared grief, but also of shared resolve. ASEAN stands united, and Malaysia reaffirms its steadfast commitment to solidarity, regional cooperation, and humanitarian efforts in the face of this tragedy.

PUTRAJAYA

30 March 2025