Malaysia pledges to work toward Myanmar's ASEAN reintegration as Min Aung Hlaing visits

The visit and the talks

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 7 October, beginning a two-day visit that is his first to Malaysia since he became president in April. On Thursday he met Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after an official welcome and a guard of honour of 106 military personnel, according to Bernama as cited by ANSA. The talks were held in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital, and covered trade, energy, security and economic matters, according to Al Jazeera. Anwar said bilateral trade had grown by more than 140% annually. On Wednesday, after landing, Min Aung Hlaing sought to reassure Malaysian investors that Myanmar was on a path toward democracy and that his government was restoring stability, state-run MRTV reported.

Malaysia's position on recognition

Anwar said Malaysia would do whatever was possible to bring Myanmar into the regional bloc, while acknowledging concerns about Myanmar's democratic processes and calling for differences to be respected. He added that Min Aung Hlaing had shown willingness to be collaborative. Speaking to media after the meeting, he said:

I would say that we and our part in Malaysia, will do whatever is possible to make sure that we enhance this collaboration and ultimately, take Myanmar as part of our community of nations, without prejudice, and particularly in the context of ASEAN,

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the government spokesperson, denied that the visit amounted to recognition of Myanmar's government, according to Bernama. He was quoted as saying:

This meeting does not mean we recognise the Myanmar government.

ASEAN barred Min Aung Hlaing and senior Myanmar officials from its summits after the 2021 coup, for not adhering to an ASEAN-brokered peace plan. Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam have nonetheless sought to re-establish ties with Myanmar. The Independent counts this trip as his fifth to a fellow ASEAN member.

Repatriations and refugees

Malaysia has said it can no longer take in refugees from Myanmar, citing the financial burden and security risk. It is not a party to the UN refugee convention and treats asylum-seekers as illegal migrants, according to Reuters. Anwar thanked Min Aung Hlaing for accepting the return of 10,493 Myanmar nationals from Malaysia. Reuters reported that about 1,500 people were sent back last month on Myanmar naval ships, while ANSA reported that Myanmar said on Sunday it had brought back nearly 1,500 refugees. Malaysia says 5,000 people chose to return to Myanmar voluntarily, a claim rights defenders have sharply criticised, according to ANSA. Anwar said repatriation would be carried out on a voluntary, safe and dignified basis, at Myanmar's own expense. Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar will accept more migrants held in Malaysia "as soon as possible."

Criticism from rights groups

The United Nations refugee agency and rights groups have slammed the repatriations, saying security and humanitarian conditions in parts of Myanmar remain volatile and returnees could face persecution and forced military conscription in an active war zone, according to The Independent. Human Rights Watch called on Anwar on Wednesday to press Min Aung Hlaing to end abuses and to halt plans to forcibly return people who had fled the country, according to Al Jazeera. It is unclear whether any returnees were Rohingya, a Muslim minority that is denied citizenship in Myanmar. ANSA reports that the army is accused of killings and rapes against the Rohingya in 2017, that The Gambia has accused Myanmar of genocide before international justice, and that two years ago the International Criminal Court prosecutor requested an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing. Al Jazeera says more than 100,000 people have been killed in Myanmar since 2021.

Wider push for legitimacy

Min Aung Hlaing led the 2021 coup and became president in April after retiring as army chief, following an election in which the military's proxy party contested virtually unopposed, according to The New York Times. Rights groups and Western nations criticised that vote as a sham, Reuters reported. Over recent months he has travelled to Russia, China, India, Belarus, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. In September the Trump administration sent a high-level delegation to Myanmar to help secure the release of American businessman Adam Castillo, who was freed and returned to the United States. Myanmar's state-run Global New Light of Myanmar suggested the decision was made to curry favour and maintain friendly relations with Washington.