Malaysia Pledges Support for Myanmar’s ASEAN Reintegration, Says Anwar
Malaysia vows to support Myanmar's return to ASEAN as leader Min Aung Hlaing seeks international legitimacy.
POLICY WIRE — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to work toward Myanmar’s full reintegration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), following a meeting with military-backed leader Min Aung Hlaing on Thursday.
The visit comes as Min Aung Hlaing seeks greater global recognition after being installed as civilian president in April. The meeting took place in Putrajaya, where both leaders addressed concerns over Myanmar’s political situation and ongoing repatriation efforts.
Anwar emphasized that Malaysia would continue supporting collaboration with Myanmar, including the repatriation of thousands of its nationals from the country. This move has drawn criticism from the United Nations and human rights organizations due to the risks posed by the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar.
Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been excluded from high-level ASEAN summits. However, some member states have attempted to restore ties. Min Aung Hlaing has previously visited Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam since becoming president.
📄 POLICY WIRE WHITEPAPER PUBLISHED: PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY PRIORITIES
During the briefing, Anwar acknowledged concerns about democratic processes in Myanmar but stressed the importance of respecting differences. He also praised Min Aung Hlaing for agreeing to repatriate 10,493 Myanmar citizens so far. Malaysia has stopped accepting new refugees, citing financial and security concerns.
Min Aung Hlaing announced plans to send navy ships to repatriate detained Myanmar citizens, calling for Malaysia’s cooperation. He also extended an invitation for Anwar to visit Myanmar when the time is right.
The discussion did not address the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, many of whom fled Myanmar after a 2017 military crackdown. Muslim-majority Malaysia criticized the actions at the time, but recent years have seen increased scrutiny of the Rohingya community within the country.
Over 193,000 Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers reside in Malaysia, with 65% being Rohingya. Buddhist-majority Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as an official ethnic group and denies them citizenship.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
