KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) – Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is set to undertake a humanitarian mission to Myanmar in the coming days, following the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central regions of the country on Friday, claiming over 1,600 lives and injuring more than 3,400.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the visit will reflect Malaysia’s compassion and solidarity with the people of Myanmar and aims to coordinate additional assistance based on urgent needs identified on the ground.
The announcement comes as part of a broader regional response, with Malaysia—ASEAN Chair for 2025—convening a Special Emergency ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Sunday to address the aftermath of the earthquake, which also affected parts of Thailand.
The virtual meeting, chaired by Mohamad, was attended by ASEAN Foreign Ministers, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, and the Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste, who joined as an observer.
“We urge the international community to work closely with ASEAN mechanisms, particularly the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), to ensure effective delivery of aid,” Mohamad said during the meeting.
He welcomed ASEAN’s swift response through the AHA Centre, noting that trauma relief supplies have already been dispatched from Malaysia’s logistics hubs, and that further support will be adjusted according to needs on the ground.
Mohamad also highlighted the readiness of the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) for immediate deployment, reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment to scale up humanitarian assistance as required.
Underscoring Malaysia’s commitment, two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft departed for Nay Pyi Taw earlier on Sunday, carrying 50 personnel from the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) and essential equipment to support search and rescue efforts in the hardest-hit areas. The mission is being coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).
Mohamad also used the platform to urge all parties in Myanmar to cease hostilities and allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid workers.
“In the interest of the people of Myanmar, I call on all parties to unite and focus on recovery and rebuilding,” he said. “Malaysia, together with fellow ASEAN members, stands ready to work toward a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Myanmar.”
— BERNAMA
