ASEAN won’t endorse election in military-ruled Myanmar, Malaysia says

Key Highlights

• Human rights and opposition groups say the polls were neither free nor fair and are an effort by the military to legitimise its rule.
• Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told Parliament that ASEAN leaders decided at their summit in October not to send observers to Myanmar because conditions for a credible election were not met, though some member countries chose to do so individually.
• Myanmar’s Information Ministry said last month that ASEAN members Cambodia and Vietnam were among several nations that sent observers.
• Mohamad Hasan said ASEAN has made clear that the election must be conducted with comprehensive and free participation, rather than being held in phases or under restrictive conditions that bar certain candidates.
• “We didn’t send observers and by virtue of that, we don’t certify the election,” he said.