Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (middle) entertaining guests at his Hari Raya Open House
By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah
Rantau, Negeri Sembilan – Malaysia has committed to providing comprehensive humanitarian assistance to Myanmar in the wake of a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake that has ravaged central regions of the country. This aid initiative occurs as Malaysia also undertakes the significant responsibility of chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, announced the government’s plans during his Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House on Saturday, outlining a multi-faceted aid package designed to address the urgent needs of the affected population.
The earthquake, which caused widespread destruction and significant loss of life, has left Myanmar grappling with collapsed infrastructure, including hospitals and water pipe systems. The immediate aftermath has created a critical need for medical assistance, clean water, and temporary shelter.
“We are decommission, demobilized our Search and Rescue team, (SMART) because that stage is already over,” stated Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, acknowledging the completion of the initial search and rescue phase. He emphasized the shift towards recovery efforts, highlighting the urgent need for medical support.
“Now, Myanmar is in the recovery process, and we will send a medical team, an orthopedic surgeon team, which is needed because many are injured,” he said when asked whether the government is going to send more aids to the earthquake torn country.
Recognizing the scale of the disaster, the Malaysian government has pledged to deploy a Field Hospital, mirroring its previous assistance to Turkiye. “I brought this matter to the cabinet last week for us to send a Field Hospital, just like we sent to Turkiye before; we will send a field hospital,” the Minister confirmed.
The immediate needs of the Myanmar people are substantial. “They need that. The temporary government of Myanmar needs a lot of medical supplies. They need a lot of systems to filter water because their pipe systems are broken.
There is no water. So it’s difficult. So they need a system that can filter water, and they also need a lot of what they call temporary settlements. tents. They are afraid to stay. There are also houses that are uninhabitable, even if they are not completely destroyed,” he explained.
The destruction has been particularly severe in the Mandalay and Sagaing regions, with numerous homes and 84 hospitals collapsing. To address the urgent need for surgical facilities, Malaysia will provide mobile operating rooms.
“But the majority of the houses in the Mandalay area, the Sagaing area, and other areas, all collapsed. So 84 hospitals collapsed, and they need any place as a mobile operating room that can be moved to be managed by medical experts,” Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.
The Malaysian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Health are collaborating to expedite the delivery of aid. “This is being managed, and we have asked the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Malaysian Ministry of Health to work together on how to implement it. But the basic approval by the government has already been approved by the Prime Minister in the last Cabinet meeting,” he assured. “That means they can be mobilized at any time.”
It is important to note that this act of humanitarian aid is being conducted while Malaysia holds the ASEAN chairmanship for 2025. In this role, Malaysia is working to foster cooperation and address critical challenges facing Southeast Asia. Key focuses of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship include:
- Strengthening regional economic integration and digital transformation.
- Addressing the situation in Myanmar and other regional challenges.
- Promoting “inclusivity and sustainability” as the chairmanships theme.
Malaysia’s dual role in providing disaster relief and leading ASEAN underscores its commitment to regional stability and humanitarian principles. The pledged assistance, including medical teams, a Field Hospital, essential supplies, and temporary shelter, aims to alleviate the suffering of the affected population and contribute to Myanmar’s recovery efforts, while Malaysia simultaneously works to guide the ASEAN region.
-TNS NEWS