Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday echoed the words of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal when he urged his fellow ASEAN leaders to stand up for justice in the context of "blatant" violation of human rights in Myanmar.
Speaking at a forum in the University of the Philippines (UP) as part of his two-day official visit to Manila, Anwar called to "carve out" the junta-ruled nation from the regional bloc as it is "imperative" for ASEAN to stay true to one of the key ideals of ASEAN.
That is "nothing less than to stand for the cause of justice and the rule of law," he said.
Anwar, who used to study Rizaliana in his early age, said the views of Rizal, whom he described as "the precursor of Asian renaissance," remain relevant today. They must be applied in Myanmar, where people were displaced from their homes and pro-democracy protesters were jailed or killed, among other human rights violations.
"In this regard, it bears repeating these immortal lines from Dr. Rizal… that: 'Justice is the foremost virtue of the civilising races. It subdues the barbarous nations, while injustice arouses the weakest," he said during the conferment of UP officials of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, on him.
In pursuit of justice, Anwar said ASEAN must celebrate the differences and praise the national unities while also amplifying the commonalities.
The regional bloc should do that so "we can stand as cooperative partners working towards the betterment of all our people in a just and peaceful world," he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar also warned against the possible erosion of ASEAN bond, which is caused by "routine of social media, fake news, misplaced nationalism and Islamophobia" that was even "fueled by convenience."
Again, he reiterated Rizal's words when he expressed concern that ASEAN might slide into the routine of "a declivity down which many governments slide."
"Indeed, as we extrapolate this in the context of ASEAN, we could make a case that routine has led, to a certain extent, to the erosion of our bonds as individual states," he said, noting that, instead, we "must be united in the common cause of peace and stability."
"Even worse, routine has allowed the world to fall behind our future potential," he added.
Anwar also shrugged off criticisms against ASEAN, particularly its "effectiveness and efficiency" and the "mantra of centrality."
Saying criticisms were mostly focused on ASEAN's decision-making by consensus and non-interference, Anwar defended the bloc by saying it is, in fact, by these criticisms that ASEAN evolved.
"These critics often miss the central point – ASEAN would not have grown or evolved without these key boundaries being in place. And lest we forget, we are now heading into a larger grouping, with the impending admission of Timor Leste as the eleventh member," he said.
The Prime Minister then called for global cooperation, which he said remains essential.
"Ancient as well as conventional trade routes must be maintained for the stability and peace of the world, and that rests on ASEAN just as much as it does China, the US, or Europe or anyone else," he said.
"The COVID-19 pandemic spared none of us. Geopolitical tensions and conflicts unleash consequences well beyond borders," he added.