Santiago, who chairs a group of Asean parliamentarians for human rights, said a five-point peace consensus jointly agreed by Asean nations last year had been “an unmitigated failure”.

However, Asean leaders had shown they were unable or unwilling to move beyond it, he said.

Yesterday, Asean heads of government issued a warning to Myanmar to make progress on a peace plan or risk being barred from the bloc’s meetings.

“Time is running out for millions of Myanmar people resisting military rule and suffering under the murderous junta, and Asean is not doing anything beyond issuing tepid statements of concern and making symbolic gestures,” the former Klang MP said.

He said Asean should negotiate a new agreement.

Asean must put real pressure on Myanmar’s generals through sanctions, an arms embargo, travel bans, and meet the needs of the Myanmar population by delivering aid through civil society organisations.