Key facts
- Malaysia plans to invite Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to discuss the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will invite Min Aung Hlaing for an official visit.
- The invitation is conditional on Myanmar accepting the return of Rohingya refugees.
- Min Aung Hlaing seized power in a 2021 coup and became president in April.
- Malaysia, following ASEAN, does not recognize Myanmar's new government but needs an authority for repatriation talks.
- Malaysia has around 193,800 refugees from Myanmar as of February, according to the UNHCR.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated on Wednesday that he intends to invite Myanmar's junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, for an official visit. The purpose of the visit would be to negotiate the return of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees currently residing in Malaysia.
Anwar indicated that while Malaysia, in line with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, is not ready to formally recognize Myanmar's current government, an authority is needed for repatriation discussions. Anwar explained that the invitation is a diplomatic approach, stating, "I invited him to say we can be friends, we can trade, we can accept Myanmar, but Myanmar must accept them (refugees) back." He acknowledged the suffering of the Rohingya but emphasized that Malaysia cannot permanently accommodate them and that "they need to be sent home." Malaysia has borne the cost for the initial return of 5,000 refugees, with expectations for more to be repatriated in stages.
ASEAN has not recognized Myanmar's election results, and its leaders have been barred from summits since 2021 due to the ongoing civil war. Malaysia has been a vocal critic of Myanmar's junta, expressing frustration over its refusal to cease hostilities. Min Aung Hlaing has recently visited other ASEAN nations and several other countries, including China, India, and Russia.