A government MP has come to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s defence after the latter was criticised by former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah over a meeting with Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing scheduled for today.

Responding to Saifuddin’s remarks that the meeting in Bangkok was a “step in the wrong direction” as Malaysia had been consistent in not recognising the junta, Sungai Petani MP Taufiq Johari said Anwar chose the “path of engagement” to extend further assistance to Myanmar following the devastating earthquake last month which claimed more than 5,300 lives.

Stating that Anwar’s meeting had the backing of Asean leaders, Taufiq stressed that the prime minister’s discussions with Min should not be seen as a sign that he was endorsing the junta or its 2021 coup which ousted Myanmar’s elected government.

“It’s clear that our prime minister’s rationale for reaching out is to help the common people, not to legitimise the 2021 coup,” he said in a statement.

“Let’s not forget that the most important thing is to help the people of Myanmar, and that is why we are leading efforts to reach out to them, including setting up a temporary field hospital run by the Malaysian armed forces.”

Taufiq said Asean remained committed to the Five-Point Consensus as the basis for engagement with Myanmar, and that the meeting was being held purely on humanitarian grounds.

He reminded Saifuddin that thousands of Myanmar nationals were deported from Malaysia to face possibly dire consequences in their home country during his tenure as communications minister under Muhyiddin Yassin and foreign minister under Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

He also noted Saifuddin’s call for Malaysia and Asean to engage Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) and National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), as well as the nation’s public stakeholders.

NUG and NUCC form the Myanmar government-in-exile, established after the 2021 military coup.

“I would like to emphasise that helping the people of Myanmar is not a repudiation of the government-in-exile,” said Taufiq.

“Perhaps (Saifuddin) is just trying to score political points.

On Monday, Anwar said he would urge the Myanmar junta to extend the current ceasefire, calling it crucial to allow humanitarian aid to reach victims of the recent earthquake.

Putrajaya, which has channelled RM10 million in humanitarian aid to Myanmar, also sent a team to the country for a search and rescue mission.