Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) and Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing (left) held talks about bilateral relations and regional engagement on October 8. (Bernama)
On October 8, Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim pledged to work towards Myanmar’s integration into the ASEAN, following talks with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing during his two-day official visit to Malaysia.
The visit was intended to sustain direct engagement with Myanmar and coincides with the decision of the 48th ASEAN Summit in May 2026 to pursue constructive and principled engagement with the country. Malaysia also reaffirmed its support for ASEAN-led efforts to promote peace, reconciliation and humanitarian access in Myanmar.
However, Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the meeting did not constitute formal recognition of Myanmar’s government. He said the engagement was intended to address domestic concerns, particularly the long-standing issue of Myanmar nationals in Malaysia.
Malaysian PM Anwar reported more than 10,493 Myanmar citizens and personnel had been repatriated through flights and naval ships. He added that further returns would be negotiated between Malaysia and its Myanmar counterpart, with officials required to verify individuals’ records before the process could be completed.
The two leaders discussed the repatriation of Myanmar nationals from different ethnic groups, with Malaysian PM Anwar saying the process should follow established procedures and be conducted on a voluntary, dignified and safe basis.
Myanmar’s position within ASEAN remains subject to the bloc’s existing decisions. ASEAN foreign ministers reaffirmed that Myanmar remained an integral member of the organisation but stressed that meaningful political progress required an end to violence and inclusive dialogue. The bloc also maintained the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as its main framework for addressing the crisis.
Malaysia’s latest engagement signals an effort to bring Myanmar closer to ASEAN’s diplomatic processes while addressing bilateral concerns over repatriation. Any broader reintegration will depend on how Malaysia’s engagement aligns with the bloc’s existing conditions for progress towards the implementation of the 5PC.
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