Brief
Myanmar’s coup leader‑turned‑president receives red‑carpet welcome in Malaysia
Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Kuala Lumpur for talks on Myanmar refugees, with Malaysia pledging to help reintegrate Myanmar into ASEAN.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Myanmar’s coup leader‑turned‑president Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Kuala Lumpur last week for a visit that Malaysian officials said was not formal recognition but a chance to discuss the “longstanding issue” of Myanmar refugees and migrants in Malaysia, Al Jazeera reported.
What happened
After being invited in September, Min Aung Hlaing travelled to Malaysia where he was greeted with a red‑carpet reception and an honour guard. He attended an official luncheon on Thursday with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. During the meeting, Anwar announced that Malaysia would work to repatriate Myanmar nationals at Malaysia’s own expense, citing favourable weather for naval deployments. The visit follows Min Aung Hlaing’s recent trips to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, making Malaysia the fifth ASEAN country to host him since he became president in April.
What the reports add
Al Jazeera noted that Malaysia hosts about 193,000 Myanmar nationals, most of them Rohingya Muslims, and that anti‑refugee sentiment is rising domestically. The outlet also highlighted that the ASEAN Five‑Point Consensus, which calls for an end to violence and constructive dialogue, has been championed by Malaysia but has excluded Min Aung Hlaing from high‑level meetings because of his refusal to implement the plan.
What was said
Min Aung Hlaing told reporters, “Because the weather is favourable, I will dispatch Navy ships to repatriate them.” Anwar Ibrahim told reporters, “Malaysia will do whatever is possible to make sure that we … ultimately, take Myanmar as part of our community of nations, without prejudice, and particularly in the context of ASEAN.” Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate at the University of Nottingham’s Asia Research Institute, said, “Malaysia’s reversal on Min Aung Hlaing has broken a dam of opposition to the junta,” and added that the move “does not offer any concrete path to the resolution of the Myanmar crisis.”
How it came about
The visit follows a five‑year civil war that began after Min Aung Hlaing’s 2021 power grab, which has killed up to 100,000 people and displaced at least 3.5 million, according to monitoring groups. Earlier this year, Malaysia publicly supported the ASEAN Five‑Point Consensus and criticised the junta’s refusal to engage. The current outreach marks a shift toward pragmatic engagement, despite criticism from human‑rights observers.
Key facts
- Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Kuala Lumpur last week for talks on refugees. (aljazeera.com)
- Malaysia hosts about 193,000 Myanmar nationals, mostly Rohingya. (aljazeera.com)
- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged naval repatriation of Myanmar nationals. (aljazeera.com)
- Malaysia is the fifth ASEAN country to host Min Aung Hlaing since April. (aljazeera.com)
- The civil war in Myanmar has killed up to 100,000 and displaced 3.5 million. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Myanmar’s coup leader-turned-president wins back neighbours despite war”
