Latest news with #AzmiHassan
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Now to ensure a lasting peace
Heading home: Cambodian migrant workers carrying their belongings as they returned from Thailand through the Doung International Gate in Battambang province. Experts say the Malaysian government should use the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire to establish clear conditions to prevent future conflict. — AFP PETALING JAYA: The Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire is a step forward for peace but more must be done to ensure it lasts, geopolitical experts say. Describing the Malaysian government's offer to be a mediator as 'very much needed' due to the brewing political tensions between the two nations, political analyst Azmi Hassan said it is unlikely that either Thailand or Cambodia would unilaterally call for a ceasefire. It also bodes well for the country that both nations chose Malaysia as a location for the peace talks, he said. He recommended that Malaysia consolidate its role as mediator by ensuring that the United States, China and other Asean partners, be involved in the upcoming peace negotiations. Having more parties involved could help ensure a longer-lasting peace agreement and reduce the likelihood of conflict reigniting, Azmi added. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia international law expert Prof Dr Salawati Mat Basir said the quick ceasefire agreement had showcased Malaysia's key role as an Asean chair to ensure peace. She, however, warned that the Malaysian government must continue to play a central role in peace negotiations to prevent a possible over-complication of terms due to influence from global superpowers. 'By acting as the primary mediator, we can help prevent superpowers from intervening and influencing peace talks in a regional conflict,' she said, adding that Malaysia must stand ready to prevent any influence from complicating peace talks between the nations. Universiti Malaya International and Strategic Studies Department lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Ying Hooi said the Malaysian government should use this ceasefire to establish clear conditions to prevent future conflict. 'The root cause of this conflict has not been resolved and will likely take a long time (to address), so the focus for now must be on setting up effective mechanisms to prevent the tensions from flaring up again. 'Then, we can work towards finding out what triggered the clash, demilitarise the hot zones and set up a joint border committee between Thailand and Cambodia with a third party like Malaysia to oversee it,' she said. Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin called for the establishment of an Asean independent and neutral monitoring team to ensure smooth implementation of the ceasefire. 'Delivery of Asean humanitarian aid must also begin urgently to all affected, particularly to displaced communities and those who have suffered casualties due to the conflict. 'We also urge the people of Thailand and Cambodia to refrain from spreading provocation or unfounded accusations online, which may hinder the pursuit of lasting peace,' he said.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia's Experience As Mediator Brought Thailand, Cambodia To Negotiating Table
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Besides being ASEAN Chair, Malaysia's experience as a mediating country for geopolitical conflicts in Southeast Asia was a factor in Thailand and Cambodia agreeing to attend a special meeting on the recent border conflict between both countries. Geostrategy expert Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said Malaysia previously acted as a mediator for conflicts in the region, including in Aceh, southern Thailand and the southern Philippines, adding that regional parties or countries faced with conflict trust Malaysia as they have confidence and believe in its neutral approach. 'That's what's called Malaysia's leverage, its neutral aura that doesn't side either Thailand or Cambodia in this issue. So we see it's an important criteria,' he said when interviewed by Bernama TV for the Buletin Bernama programme today. He pointed out that the special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today also is historic as it was the first time an ASEAN Chair directly sought a solution to the long-running Thailand-Cambodia conflict. He also praised the prime minister's move to invite two major powers, the United States and China, to be present at the meeting, describing it as a wise strategy to encourage Thailand and Cambodia to come to the negotiating table. 'Malaysia knows that these major powers, the United States and China, have huge influence on leaders of both those countries. So, that's what is called the strategic perspective of the ASEAN Chair of not wanting to sideline major powers. 'Sometimes major powers are needed and sometimes they are prevented from interfering in ASEAN's internal affairs, but this time, the major powers can be said to be needed,' Azmi said. Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire that will take effect at midnight tonight during a special meeting chaired by Anwar in Putrajaya today to ease tensions that flared recently in a disputed border area of both countries. -- BERNAMA
Free Malaysia Today
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Bersatu's proposed ‘United Opposition Front' likely to fail, says analyst
Bersatu's Supreme Council has authorised party president Muhyiddin Yassin to lead efforts to establish the United Opposition Front. PETALING JAYA : Bersatu's proposal for a 'United Opposition Front' is likely to fall flat, according to an analyst. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the proposal aims to unite Bersatu and other Perikatan Nasional (PN) components with all parties and groups opposed to the current government. 'But these small parties and groups are not significant enough to attract more votes to help the opposition topple the government. 'That is why I think it won't make much of a difference even if PN can get all the parties outside the current government to team up with it,' he told FMT. Azmi said parties such as Muda and Pejuang and the various other splinter groups were so small that their inclusion in the United Opposition Front would make little to no difference. Muda holds only two seats, both in Johor – the Muar parliamentary seat and the Puteri Wangsa state seat. Pejuang, meanwhile, fared poorly at the 15th general election (GE15), and failed to secure any parliamentary or state seat, with all its candidates losing their deposits. Other possible allies would include Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), led by Ibrahim Ali, which also lost in GE15, and Urimai, whose application to register as a political party was rejected by the Registrar of Societies (RoS). Urimai, led by former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy, is challenging that decision in ongoing judicial review proceedings. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) contested the Ayer Kuning by-election in April but its candidate, KS Bawani, lost to Barisan Nasional's Yusri Bakir in a three-cornered fight for the Perak state seat. In June, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad sought to rally the Malays under a single broad-based movement, ostensibly to 'restore Malay power' in government. The big-tent alliance has brought together PAS, Bersatu and other Malay-centric forces. Mahathir also said Umno members were welcome in their personal capacity. At its Supreme Council meeting on Tuesday, Bersatu authorised party president Muhyiddin Yassin to spearhead efforts to build ties with parties outside the government bloc to form a united opposition front. The party's secretary-general Azmin Ali said the initiative would entail discussions aimed at forging a unified position on issues concerning the rakyat's interests. The proposal is expected to be discussed at a PN Supreme Council meeting scheduled for this weekend. Yesterday evening, Muhyiddin met with leaders from political parties outside the government bloc, including Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir, acting Muda president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, Urimai chairman P Ramasamy and PSM deputy chairman S Arutchelvan. Non-Malay voters unconvinced Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman's Chin Yee Mun believes Bersatu's proposal is part of a strategic plan to reassert PN's position in the political landscape. 'The Malay unity slogan has lost its lustre and recently Muhyiddin has expressed his intention to make PN more approachable to non-Muslim voters. 'If so, it is a well-thought after decision, particularly when the unity government's recent policies and actions have raised some concerns among Malaysians, such as issues with the expansion of the sales and service tax (SST), rising cost of living, and appointment of senior judges,' he said. As to whether it will work, he said it may appeal to the Malay-Muslim segment who are not already supporters of PN. 'For the non-Malays and non-Muslim segments, they will need more convincing. As of now, the non-Malay, non-Muslim parties are aligned with the unity government,' he added.
Free Malaysia Today
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PAS seeking power balance in PN through consultative approach, say analysts
PAS holds the most parliamentary seats of the components in PN. PETALING JAYA : The call by a PAS spiritual leader for Perikatan Nasional (PN) to adopt a 'musyawarah' or consultative approach before announcing policies signals the party's demand for an equal voice and rights within the coalition, analysts say. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Hashim Jasin's remarks followed other signals from PAS that Bersatu should not make decisions without consulting its allies. Azmi said PAS's main demand was the establishment of a PN presidential council to ensure that decisions are made fairly and are not dominated by Bersatu, which holds most of the coalition's key leadership positions. 'PAS simply wants an equal say, especially in decisions related to the distribution of seats for the 16th general election,' Azmi told FMT. 'Given that PAS holds the most parliamentary seats in the coalition, it is now leveraging its position to demand the posts in the coalition leadership which it believes it deserves.' He added that the call was unlikely to cause major rifts as both PAS and Bersatu need each other for the next election. Malaysiakini yesterday reported Hashim as claiming that some decisions, such as the naming of PN's prime ministerial candidate, were made unilaterally by PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin. In November last year, Hashim said that Bersatu could not sideline PAS in deciding on the prime ministerial candidate, reminding it that PAS held more seats and had a stronger grassroots machinery. His statement was a response to Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who insisted that PN would name Muhyiddin as its prime ministerial candidate for the next general election. Ariff Aizuddin Azlan of Universiti Teknologi Mara described Hashim's comments as a 'gentle rebuke' to Bersatu, and a reminder not to disregard the spirit of political solidarity that the coalition had built over the years. He said PAS's call also reflected its demand for respect. 'This is consistent with its large number of seats in the Dewan Rakyat and the fact that PAS governs several states – Kedah, Terengganu, Kelantan, and Perlis,' he added.
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Asean unity offers fresh momentum for South China Sea conduct, says expert
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time, Asean is presenting a united front in pushing for the long-delayed South China Sea Code of Conduct (CoC), an initiative aimed at easing tensions in the disputed waters. Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said this show of unity underscores the challenges in finalising the CoC, even after 15 years of negotiations. "The framework for the CoC was agreed upon a few years ago, but it stopped there; it was not a full agreement. "The Foreign Minister (Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) said Asean is confident that an effective and substantive CoC can be concluded in the near future time and this reflects how difficult it is to reach an agreement in this particular case. "This is also the first time, under Malaysia's chairmanship, that the CoC has a real chance of being concluded," he told the New Straits Times today. Earlier, Mohamad, in his keynote address at the Asean Post Ministerial Conference with China, said the economic bloc is confident that an effective and substantive CoC can be concluded, in the not-too-distant future, with the full commitment of all parties in negotiations. Mohamad also said the bloc welcomed the progress of the CoC and expressed hope for continuous positive momentum. Last year, Mohamad said Malaysia, together with Asean member states, is negotiating the CoC framework with China to prevent conflict in the South China Sea. The framework aims to maintain peace while respecting individual territorial claims and is developed without prejudice to the territorial and maritime claims of each nation. The negotiations are carried out by Asean member states and China through the Asean Joint Working Group, the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and the Asean-China Senior Officials Meeting on the implementation of the DOC. Malaysia serves as the co-chair in negotiating the draft COC. Commenting further, Azmi said that while Malaysia, the current Asean chair, is likely to see the CoC finalised during its tenure, the document could be accelerated during the Philippines chairmanship. "With China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other key players attending the AMM, Malaysia can help build momentum.
