KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Myanmar crisis, citing the significance of “quiet engagement” and ASEAN’s evolving role in navigating complex regional issues.
Speaking during the opening of the 46th ASEAN Summit on 26 May 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said subtle diplomacy has enabled meaningful progress despite formidable challenges.
“The steps may be small and the bridge may be fragile, but as they say, in matters of peace, even a fragile bridge is better than a widening gulf,” he said.
Anwar noted that ASEAN has achieved incremental progress through the establishment of the Informal Advisory Group for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
The group is led by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and includes participation from prominent regional figures.
He added that a previous meeting held in Brunei Darussalam was attended by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, while the third session in Bangkok contributed to tangible progress.
The next meeting will be hosted by Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Anwar’s comments came as ASEAN continues to grapple with the aftermath of Myanmar’s 2021 military coup.
Efforts to implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) agreed in April 2021 have stalled, largely due to the Myanmar junta’s non-compliance.
Nonetheless, Anwar initiated direct dialogue earlier this month with both junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and the opposition National Unity Government (NUG).
The engagement is viewed as a major step in promoting inclusivity and breaking diplomatic deadlock.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on 25 May that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting had agreed to conduct internal consultations regarding the proposal to appoint a permanent ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar.
The envoy would serve a three-year term to ensure continuity in ASEAN’s mediation.
According to the minister, the appointment aims to reinforce sustained diplomatic engagement, which has been hindered by inconsistent leadership changes among envoys in the past.
The Five-Point Consensus includes calls for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive political dialogue, humanitarian assistance, appointment of an envoy, and the envoy’s access to all parties involved in the conflict.
Though initially welcomed, its implementation has faced setbacks, and the Myanmar crisis remains one of the most pressing issues within ASEAN’s regional agenda.
ASEAN reaffirms rules-based order amid rising geopolitical and economic tensions
Anwar used the Summit to reiterate the bloc’s commitment to a rules-based order.
“For ASEAN, our peace, stability and prosperity have often depended on an open, inclusive, rules-based international order, anchored in the free flow of trade, capital and people,” he said.
“These foundations are now being dismantled under the force of arbitrary action.”
He acknowledged the challenges posed by geopolitical tensions, including the imposition of unilateral tariffs by the United States, which has strained the global trading system.
To counter such threats, ASEAN established the Geo-economics Task Force, which Anwar described as a necessary and timely move to consolidate economic strategies and demonstrate regional resilience.
Looking ahead, Anwar expressed confidence in ASEAN’s strength and unity.
“I strongly believe in the fortitude and staying power of ASEAN to withstand the headwinds and weather the storms,” he said.
“It is our conviction to forge our own future that will enable us to stay ahead of the curve.”
First ASEAN-GCC-China Summit signals strategic realignment in a multipolar world
He also announced ASEAN’s plans to host the first-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, underscoring the bloc’s growing strategic clarity and influence on the global stage.
This trilateral summit, he explained, is a reflection of ASEAN’s ability to adapt and build partnerships amid a shifting multipolar global landscape.
“The summit manifests the successful reshaping of the matrix of partnership that speaks to today’s multipolar reality,” he said.
“It symbolises the power of cohesiveness of regional blocs which no doubt would have positive impact on the world at large.”
He stressed the importance of preserving multilateralism and advancing ASEAN’s geo-economic model as a means of achieving sustainable regional development.
Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025 is being guided by the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’.
This marks the country’s fifth time in the role, having previously held the position in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
Anwar said the theme is both a strategic and values-based proposition, aimed at ensuring ASEAN’s future rests on equitable growth and enduring resilience.
“These principles must be embedded at the very heart of ASEAN’s agenda and vision,” he concluded.
“Malaysia appreciates the support of all in ensuring that our Chairmanship advances this shared vision.”
Calls grow for Malaysia to lead ASEAN in adopting a new Myanmar strategy amid continued junta violence
On 19 May, former Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and three ex-UN experts from the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) urged Anwar Ibrahim to lead a new ASEAN strategy on Myanmar.
The call followed Anwar’s separate meetings with both Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and NUG Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Thann.
SAC-M criticised Anwar’s engagement with the junta, stating the ceasefire he discussed was a façade, as violence—including deadly airstrikes—has continued. They highlighted ongoing atrocities, such as the bombing of a Sagaing school on 12 May that killed 22 children and two teachers.
Declaring ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus obsolete, SAC-M proposed a New 5PC focusing on inclusive dialogue, humanitarian access, democratic transition, constitutional reform, and justice for war crimes.
The ongoing violence in Myanmar has resulted in the displacement of over 3.5 million people since the military coup in 2021. Millions more face poverty, exacerbated by the military’s control over aid distribution during natural disasters.
The SAC-M stressed that ASEAN must address these humanitarian challenges effectively.
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