PETALING JAYA: Negotiation and dialogue are part of diplomacy and should not be regarded as signals of recognition or endorsement, says Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim.
The Prime Minister's political secretary said this in response to concerns surrounding the two-day official visit of Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to Malaysia on Oct 7 and 8.
"Criticism of any engagement with Myanmar's leadership deserves to be heard and Malaysia's position on the Asean Five-Point Consensus must not be compromised. However, we must also be fair to the facts.
"Opening the door to discussion does not mean turning a blind eye to atrocities," he said in a Facebook post Thursday (Oct 7).
Muhammad Kamil was responding to a statement by former Klang MP Charles Santiago, who raised concerns over the risk of conferring legitimacy through a "red carpet" welcome for Myanmar's junta chief.
"Malaysia's diplomatic history is filled with such approaches," Muhammad Kamil said, citing the example of Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, who sat at the same table as Chin Peng during the 1955 Baling talks.
"Did that mean Tunku recognised the armed struggle of the Communist Party of Malaya? Certainly not. He negotiated because, as a leader, he had a greater responsibility to find a way to end violence and save lives," he said.
He also cited Tun Abdul Razak's decision to visit Beijing in 1974, where he met Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, and established diplomatic relations with China despite anti-communist sentiment at the time.
"When we roll out the red carpet for a visiting United States president, it does not mean that we endorse US policies and positions on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or its support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
"In all these circumstances, the door to negotiation was opened not because we agreed with every party at the table, but because conflicts will not be resolved if every channel of communication is closed," he said.
On Myanmar, Muhammad Kamil said Malaysia had not met only Min Aung Hlaing, with the Prime Minister also meeting representatives of Myanmar's National Unity Government while Malaysia was Asean chair in 2025.
He said the approach was to engage all stakeholders to find a way out of the crisis.
"The term 'rolling out the red carpet' may make for an attractive political headline, but it does not explain the complexity of diplomacy.
"The more important question is: what is Malaysia demanding at the negotiating table?
"An end to violence, implementation of the Asean Five-Point Consensus, humanitarian access and inclusive political dialogue. In the current bilateral context, it is also to ensure that any repatriation of Myanmar nationals is voluntary, dignified and safe," he said.
He added that atrocities could be condemned while speaking to those with the power to stop them.
"Diplomacy is having the courage to speak to those with whom we disagree when peace, regional security and human lives are at stake," he said.
