Anwar Pledges ASEAN Re-Entry for Myanmar After Junta Visit — SkimNews
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- Anwar Ibrahim told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 8 that Malaysia will do "whatever is possible" to re-integrate Myanmar into the ASEAN community "without prejudice," following a meeting with Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing.
- Min Aung Hlaing is on a two-day visit to Malaysia seeking international legitimacy after being appointed president in April via an election Western nations and rights groups called a sham.
- Min Aung Hlaing has been barred from ASEAN summits since 2021 over failure to implement an ASEAN-brokered peace plan, but since his presidency has also visited Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
- Anwar acknowledged ongoing concerns about Myanmar's democratic processes but said Min Aung Hlaing had shown willingness to be collaborative, framing differences as something to be "respected."
- Anwar expressed appreciation for Min Aung Hlaing's acceptance of the repatriation of 10,493 Myanmar nationals from Malaysia, with around 1,500 already sent back last month on Myanmar naval ships.
- Malaysia says it can no longer absorb Myanmar refugees, calling them a financial burden and security risk, and has proceeded with returns despite UN and rights group warnings of danger from Myanmar's ongoing civil war.
Why it matters: Malaysia's posture exposes a contradiction: it is diplomatically rehabilitating the same regime it is shipping refugees back to. Anwar's pledge comes as Min Aung Hlaing — barred from ASEAN summits since 2021 for ignoring the bloc's peace plan — completes a regional charm offensive across five ASEAN states, normalizing a leader installed via a coup-wracked election. For ASEAN, the question is whether re-engagement comes with conditions or is unconditional reconciliation.
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