Speaking at the ASEAN Leaders Summit in Hua Hin on Sunday, March 1, Mr Lee said ASEAN will lose credibility if it is unable to sort out a problem in its own region.

Mr Lee said the publicity on the alleged ill-treatment of the Rohingya boat people has hurt ASEAN’s image.

He said ASEAN countries should not export problems to one another and best address it at source.

Mr Lee said where the Rohingyas came from was a question of fact which could be ascertained. And it would be helpful if Myanmar allowed the UN to assess the situation in the Rakhine State and coordinate international humanitarian assistance.

Mr Lee said as a small country, Singapore understands why countries cannot simply take in everyone who landed on its shores. But nations still have the responsibility to treat the Rohingya people humanely and alleviate their plight.

Singapore supports the proposal to refer the matter to the Bali process, which is meeting in April, to work out a proper and holistic response.

Singapore has also encouraged Myanmar to take bolder steps in its national reconciliation.

And Mr Lee said this was no longer an ASEAN matter, as Myanmar had made it clear during the Singapore summit in 2007 that it wished to deal directly with the UN.

Mr Lee noted that the Obama administration is reviewing its policy on Myanmar and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently said economic sanctions are not working and officials were looking at possible ideas.

Mr Lee said Myanmar can capitalise on this opportunity by cooperating with the UN and he is encouraged Myanmar to continue working with UN Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari’s Good Office Mission. — CNA/ms

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