Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Malaysia Seeks Myanmar’s Full Reintegration Into ASEAN
Malaysia’s leader, Anwar Ibrahim, met Myanmar’s leader, Min Aung Hlaing.
Anwar said Malaysia would work to bring Myanmar back into ASEAN, a group of Southeast Asian countries.
Myanmar’s leaders have been kept out of ASEAN summits because they have not followed a peace plan.
The meeting also discussed returning Myanmar citizens held in Malaysia.
Anwar said 10,493 people had already been accepted for repatriation.
Min Aung Hlaing said he would send navy ships to bring more people home.
Rights groups and the United Nations have raised concerns about returning people while Myanmar’s civil war continues.
The two leaders did not say whether they discussed returning Rohingya refugees.
The article says more than 193,000 people from Myanmar seeking refuge are in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would do what it could to bring Myanmar back into the ASEAN community.
Myanmar’s military-backed leader Min Aung Hlaing met Anwar during a two-day visit to Malaysia.
Myanmar officials have been barred from ASEAN summits after the country failed to follow an ASEAN-brokered peace plan.
Anwar said Malaysia had accepted the return of 10,493 Myanmar nationals; Min Aung Hlaing said more would be repatriated by navy ships.
The report says more than 193,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar are in Malaysia, about 65% of them Rohingya.
- Who
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing.
- What
- They discussed Malaysia’s effort to support Myanmar’s return to ASEAN and the repatriation of Myanmar nationals.
- When
- Thursday, during Min Aung Hlaing’s two-day visit to Malaysia; the report is dated October 8.
- Where
- Malaysia.
- Why
- Anwar said Malaysia would work to strengthen cooperation and bring Myanmar back into ASEAN; the meeting also addressed repatriation.
Malaysia and Myanmar leaders
Critics and rights advocates
Myanmar’s return to ASEAN
Malaysia and Myanmar leaders
Anwar said Malaysia would do what it could to reintegrate Myanmar into ASEAN and said differences should be respected.
Critics and rights advocates
Myanmar officials have been excluded from ASEAN summits after failing to adhere to the bloc’s peace plan following the coup.
Repatriation of Myanmar nationals
Malaysia and Myanmar leaders
Malaysia says it can no longer take in refugees, citing financial burden and security risks; Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar would bring detained citizens back.
Critics and rights advocates
The United Nations and rights groups have criticized the returns because of the risks associated with Myanmar’s ongoing civil war.
- ASEAN status
- Myanmar officials have been barred from attending ASEAN summits after failing to adhere to an ASEAN-brokered peace plan.
- Repatriation accepted
- Anwar said Myanmar had accepted the repatriation of 10,493 Myanmar nationals from Malaysia so far.
- Recent return
- Malaysia sent back around 1,500 people on Myanmar naval ships the previous month, according to the report.
- Potential deportations
- A wider Malaysian repatriation programme could involve as many as 5,000 people.
- Myanmar-origin refugees and asylum seekers
- More than 193,000 are in Malaysia, according to the UN refugee agency.
- Rohingya share
- About 65% of those refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar in Malaysia are Rohingya.
- Myanmar visit
- Min Aung Hlaing was on a two-day visit to Malaysia.