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.
