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Arab News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Malaysia leads ASEAN in new direction on Myanmar
With Malaysia assuming the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2025, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is poised to steer the regional bloc toward a more assertive stance on Myanmar's ongoing crisis. Unlike previous chairs, Malaysia aims to prioritize accountability for the Myanmar junta's atrocities and reject the legitimacy of its planned elections, widely criticized as a sham. This approach, while ambitious, faces significant challenges given ASEAN's history of ineffectiveness on Myanmar. The implications for the Rohingya and other minorities are profound and Anwar's personal interest in the issue adds a unique dimension to Malaysia's leadership. However, the likelihood of this approach being successful remains uncertain, constrained as it is by ASEAN's structural limitations and regional dynamics. Malaysia's chairmanship, themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' comes at a critical juncture. Myanmar's junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has plunged the country into chaos since the 2021 coup, displacing more than 3.3 million people and killing thousands, with ethnic and religious minorities bearing the brunt of the violence. ASEAN's response, primarily through the Five-Point Consensus adopted in April 2021, has been widely criticized as toothless, failing to curb the junta's aggression or advance inclusive dialogue. Malaysia, under Anwar's leadership, seeks to break this cycle by rejecting engagement with the junta, advocating for accountability and dismissing the junta's election plans as a ploy to entrench power. Anwar's strategy includes several key elements. First, Malaysia has appointed a special envoy, Tan Sri Othman Hashim, to facilitate dialogue with all stakeholders, including the national unity government and ethnic groups, signaling a shift toward recognizing Myanmar's legitimate democratic forces. Second, Malaysia is pushing for increased humanitarian aid to affected communities, particularly the Rohingya, and stronger coordination with international bodies like the International Criminal Court to address human rights abuses. Finally, Anwar has called for ASEAN to cease all economic and diplomatic ties with the junta, such as barring its representatives from ASEAN meetings and cutting off resources like aviation fuel that enable military operations. While Malaysia's approach is principled, its success is far from assured. ASEAN's consensus-based decision-making model, which requires unanimity among its 10 member states, has historically paralyzed decisive action on Myanmar. Countries like Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, which maintain closer ties with the junta or prioritize economic relations with China, Myanmar's key ally, are likely to resist Malaysia's push for a hard-line stance. Previous chairs, such as Indonesia in 2023, attempted similar reforms but failed to overcome these divisions, resulting in the Five-Point Consensus' stagnation. Anwar's vocal advocacy for the Rohingya stems from a combination of personal conviction and strategic positioning. Dr. Azeem Ibrahim Anwar's diplomatic efforts, including his controversial meetings with both the national unity government and Min Aung Hlaing in April, reflect a pragmatic attempt to engage all parties. However, the junta's track record of broken promises — such as its ceasefire of the same month, which was violated almost immediately — undermines the feasibility of negotiated progress. Moreover, Malaysia's ability to rally ASEAN members is complicated by its own foreign policy shifts, including closer ties with China and Russia, which may alienate Western partners that could support accountability measures. The junta's planned elections, scheduled for either December 2025 or January 2026, further complicate Malaysia's strategy. Widely viewed as a sham to legitimize military rule, these elections exclude key stakeholders like the national unity government and ethnic minorities. Malaysia's call for inclusive polls is laudable but lacks enforcement mechanisms, as ASEAN's noninterference principle limits its ability to pressure the junta. Without unified regional support or external leverage from powers like the US or the EU, Malaysia's efforts risk being symbolic rather than transformative. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority subjected to genocide in 2017, stand to gain significantly from a successful Malaysian-led ASEAN strategy. Malaysia hosts approximately 120,000 Rohingya refugees, a humanitarian burden that underscores the urgency of addressing Myanmar's crisis. Anwar's push for enhanced humanitarian aid and safe repatriation, in coordination with Bangladesh, which hosts nearly a million Rohingya, could alleviate immediate suffering. Furthermore, Malaysia's advocacy for International Criminal Court involvement may bring justice for atrocities, offering a semblance of accountability for the Rohingya and other persecuted groups like the Karen and Shan. However, failure to achieve meaningful progress could exacerbate the plight of these minorities. Continued violence and displacement in Myanmar, coupled with ASEAN's inability to act, may deepen regional instability, with Malaysia and neighboring countries facing increased refugee inflows and social tensions. The junta's elections, if held without reform, could further marginalize ethnic minorities, entrenching their exclusion from Myanmar's political process and perpetuating cycles of violence. Anwar's vocal advocacy for the Rohingya stems from a combination of personal conviction and strategic positioning. As a long-time human rights advocate and a Muslim leader, Anwar has consistently championed the cause of Muslim minorities globally, including the Palestinians and the Rohingya. His condemnation of the 2017 Rohingya genocide and calls for international action reflect a moral commitment to addressing their suffering. This stance resonates with Malaysia's domestic audience, where the Rohingya issue is a significant social and political concern, given the country's large refugee population. Strategically, Anwar's focus on the Rohingya enhances Malaysia's regional and global standing. By positioning Malaysia as a moral leader within ASEAN, Anwar seeks to restore the bloc's credibility and assert Malaysia's influence as a middle power. His engagement with both democratic and authoritarian actors in Myanmar reflects a pragmatic approach to diplomacy, balancing idealism with the realities of ASEAN's fractured dynamics.
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Thai river turns orange as dangerous toxins from Myanmar mines flush downstream
Dangerous levels of arsenic in a northern Thai river contaminated by chemicals used in mines across the border in Myanmar risk unleashing an unprecedented ecological disaster on the kingdom's waterways, environmentalists have warned, as images of the orange-yellow waters go viral. Advertisement Bangkok is seeking renewed talks with Myanmar's junta to stop the toxic sediment flowing downstream into the Kok River, which runs from Shan State, in Myanmar through Thailand's border province of Chiang Rai. But the urgency of the health crisis for riverside communities – who have been warned not to wash, drink or eat fish from the contaminated waterway they depend on – is compounded by the fact that the mines are located in territory controlled by the Wa, an ethnic armed group notorious for drug production, unchecked resource extraction and opaque business ties to China. Thai villagers started to notice the discolouration of the water in March. Fishermen on the Chiang Saen river. Photo: Earth Thailand However, satellite imagery suggests the contamination began as early as last September, when large upstream forest areas in Myanmar were cleared for mining – initially thought to be for gold, but now suspected to involve rare earths, based on the volume of chemical effluent released into the river.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Asean summit opens in Malaysia with trade dismay, US tariffs top of mind
Southeast Asian leaders are meeting in Malaysia on Monday seeking trade deals with new partners as US tariffs threaten unprecedented damage to their export-reliant economies. The two-day Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur is also expected to increase pressure on Myanmar's military junta and attempt to resolve issues with East Timor's application to join the bloc. It comes as growth across the region has taken a hit from US President Donald Trump 's threatened tariffs, with levies of up to 49 per cent set to be imposed on member states unless they can make deals before a July deadline. The tariff upheaval has pushed the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to pursue trade deals with non-US partners and increase intra-bloc trade and business cooperation. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday lamented that the very foundations of free trade were being 'dismantled under the force of arbitrary action'. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks on Monday at the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP But he added in his opening remarks at the summit that he believed in 'the fortitude and staying power of Asean to withstand the headwinds and weather the storms of the challenges and uncertainties facing us.'
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Indonesia calls for stronger Asean action on Myanmar crisis, backs Malaysia's initiatives
JAKARTA, May 25 — Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has expressed full support for Malaysia's various initiatives, as this year's Asean Chair, in facilitating a peaceful resolution to Myanmar's internal conflict. He reaffirmed Indonesia's readiness to continue actively contributing to the restoration of democracy and stability in Myanmar during the Extended Informal Consultation on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) held in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. 'Asean's strength lies in its unity. In facing the Myanmar crisis, we must speak with one voice and act with one purpose to push for the full implementation of the 5PC,' he said, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry on Sunday. The meeting, held ahead of the 46th Asean Summit, served as an informal forum for Asean foreign ministers and special envoys for Myanmar to discuss developments in Myanmar and explore ways to effectively implement the 5PC. The 5PC was adopted by Asean in April 2021 following the military coup in Myanmar on Feb 1 that year. It calls for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy, the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and for the envoy to be granted access to all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar. Despite its significance, implementation of the consensus has largely stalled due to the junta's continued non-compliance, with the issue remaining a central concern in Asean's ongoing engagement with Myanmar. The 46th Asean Summit is being held under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. This year also marks the country's fifth time at the helm of the regional grouping since its previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. Asean comprises 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Sugiono reiterated the importance of fully implementing the 5PC and focusing on ending violence, expanding humanitarian assistance, and ensuring inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders in Myanmar. 'Indonesia remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting a peaceful resolution in Myanmar. Regional stability can only be achieved if Asean stands united and acts based on the principles of consensus and solidarity,' he added. — Bernama
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Myanmar junta's drones from China, Russia tilt balance of war against resistance forces
The Myanmar junta's growing use of advanced drones – many supplied by China and Russia – has intensified its campaign against resistance forces, shifting the momentum on the battlefield and inflicting rising civilian casualties, analysts say. Advertisement While the military's gains remain limited, experts warn that the deployment of infrared and night-vision-equipped drones has raised the cost of the rebellion, as foreign-made technology bolsters a regime once seen as losing ground on multiple fronts. Sources on the ground say these foreign-made drones have given the junta a tactical edge in its operations against rebel groups in recent weeks. Although drones were initially used mainly by the armed opposition, pro-junta Telegram channels have recently shared video footage of military drone strikes targeting rebel positions in Bhamo township, Kachin state. Radio Free Asia reported in March that the attacks involved drones fitted with either infrared or thermal night vision cameras, resulting in casualties. Citing officials from the Kachin Independence Army and a local civilian defence unit, the US-funded media outlet's Burmese-language service said the Myanmar military's use of these drones in combat had a devastating impact. Advertisement 'Make no mistake – these advanced drones have gotten more rebels and innocent people killed in villages across the countryside,' said Htwe Htwe Thein, an associate professor of international business at Australia's Curtin University whose research specialities include Myanmar.
