On March 28, 2025, the nation of Myanmar, who are reeling under the impact of civil war, was further threatened and suffered great heartache as an earthquake struck causing massive damage to property and leaving rising numbers injured or dead.

Given the state of chaos and confusion, all the warring factions have sent out urgent appeals for aid and assistance from the international community and especially to Asean member countries to help them with relief efforts.

Malaysia, as Asean Chair 2025, has declared in response that they will lead and coordinate all aid and assistance to be sent to Myanmar through humanitarian missions and the most urgent request made by Myanmar is the setting up of a field hospital.

Currently, international aid is beginning to pour into the besieged nation and these are aid and assistance in the form of the clearing of debris, paramedic services, the burial of the dead and search and rescue missions being conducted.

While Malaysia has no qualms about all this, there are the ground realities that they should do what the others are not doing and this includes liaising with the different Asean member countries and coming to an agreement.

While there were a number of aftershocks recorded, the nation of Myanmar remains on a stable footing but the toll the earthquake has taken is devastating and the need for urgency is recognised by Malaysia in its capacity as Asean Chair 2025.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE