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IN the wake of a devastating earthquake in Myanmar, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed heartfelt condolences to the people of Myanmar, reaffirming Malaysia's unwavering support for humanitarian aid efforts.
Speaking on Facebook, Prime Minister Anwar shared that he personally reached out to Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on March 30 to convey Malaysia's condolences.
"As Chair of ASEAN in 2025, Malaysia stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar during this difficult time," he stated.
Anwar added that Malaysia, alongside the broader ASEAN community, is committed to assisting in the ongoing humanitarian response.
"Malaysia and ASEAN will continue to support active humanitarian aid efforts, including the deployment of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), which arrived in Myanmar early on Sunday to assist in search and rescue operations in the hardest-hit areas," he explained.
The Prime Minister also announced that a humanitarian mission, headed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, is set to travel to Myanmar in the coming days to offer further support.
In a separate communication, Anwar informed Senior General Min about the Special Emergency ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting that Malaysia hosted yesterday.
This meeting aimed to mobilise international support for Myanmar in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
In a further show of solidarity, Anwar also reached out to his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to express his condolences following the earthquake, which also had an impact on Thailand.
"I also took the opportunity to discuss various matters of mutual interest, including ASEAN’s commitment to helping Myanmar resolve its ongoing crisis peacefully," Anwar added.
"Insya-Allah, our conversation will be followed by further discussions when I visit Bangkok on April 17, at the invitation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra."
The earthquake, which struck central Myanmar on March 28, registered a magnitude of 7.7 and has claimed over 1,600 lives, with more than 3,400 people injured. The disaster has also left widespread devastation in its wake.
In response to the tragedy, Malaysia has pledged an initial RM10 million (approximately £1.8 million) in humanitarian aid to Myanmar.
Additionally, two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft were dispatched to Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, carrying 50 SMART personnel and essential rescue equipment.
The operation is being led by Malaysia's National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Malaysian Embassy in Yangon.
This marks a strong commitment by Malaysia and ASEAN to continue providing vital aid and assistance to Myanmar during this critical time of need. - March 31, 2025