KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s foreign minister said on Thursday that Myanmar’s newly appointed government appeared “more open” to regional engagement, as Southeast Asian countries continue efforts to prod the junta-backed administration toward implementing a stalled peace plan.
Mohamad Hasan told parliament he met Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe in Naypyitaw in May and discussed progress on the “five-point consensus,” an ASEAN-brokered framework first agreed after the 2021 coup and subsequent nationwide unrest. Mohamad said he also raised urgent issues including the release of political prisoners and the plight of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency and installed a new cabinet in April after a disputed election widely dismissed by critics and Western governments as engineered to restore a veneer of civilian rule. The military’s previous refusals to negotiate with opponents it deems “terrorists” have left the five-point plan largely unfulfilled.
“I see that the Myanmar side this time seemed more open to the suggestions that were expressed compared with our previous interaction,” Mohamad said, referring to talks held while Malaysia chaired ASEAN last year. He stressed, however, that any changes to the consensus would require approval from all ASEAN leaders.
ASEAN foreign ministers have been tasked by regional leaders to explore practical ways to work with Myanmar on implementing the plan, including possible adjustments to its terms, Mohamad added. The process underscores the bloc’s continued preference for dialogue and incremental engagement with Naypyitaw, even as critics argue that stronger pressure is needed to secure political progress and protect civilians.
Malaysia has repeatedly urged compliance with the consensus and raised humanitarian concerns, including the nearly 200,000 Rohingya refugees living in Malaysia and the broader need for political prisoners to be freed. The outcome of ongoing diplomatic outreach remains uncertain as Myanmar’s domestic conflict persists.