Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing meets Malaysian PM Anwar on first visit since 2021 coup
In short
Min Aung Hlaing, president of Myanmar's pro-military government, met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar in Malaysia on October 8, Kyodo reported. It is his first visit to Malaysia since the February 2021 military coup, as Myanmar steps up diplomacy to improve relations with ASEAN members. The talks were expected to cover the return of Myanmar nationals, including Rohingya Muslims.
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Min Aung Hlaing, who serves as president of Myanmar's pro-military government, met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar on October 8 during a visit to Malaysia, Kyodo News reported from Yangon. It is his first visit to Malaysia since the military coup of February 2021. According to the report, Myanmar is stepping up a diplomatic offensive aimed at improving relations with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The talks were expected to cover the return of Myanmar nationals, including members of the Rohingya Muslim minority, Kyodo reported. In September Malaysia sent home about 1,500 Myanmar nationals it had been holding in detention, as part of a plan to repatriate about 5,000 in total. Anwar had said he intended to invite Min Aung Hlaing in exchange for Myanmar accepting the returnees. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The visit is part of a diplomatic push by Myanmar to improve ties with fellow ASEAN members, according to the reports. It follows Malaysia's repatriation of detained Myanmar nationals, and Anwar had said he would invite Min Aung Hlaing in return for Myanmar accepting them.
Key facts
- Min Aung Hlaing, president of Myanmar's pro-military government, met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar in Malaysia on October 8. [ 1 , 3 ]
- It is Min Aung Hlaing's first visit to Malaysia since the military coup of February 2021. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Myanmar is stepping up diplomatic efforts to improve relations with ASEAN member states. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The talks were expected to cover the return of Myanmar nationals, including members of the Muslim Rohingya minority. [ 1 , 3 ]
- In September Malaysia repatriated about 1,500 Myanmar nationals it had detained, under a plan to send back about 5,000 in total. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Anwar had said he would invite Min Aung Hlaing in exchange for Myanmar accepting the returnees. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nothing is confirmed by two independent outlets yet.
Still unclear
- What was agreed at the meeting. The reports only say the talks were expected to cover the return of Myanmar nationals, including Rohingya; no outcome is reported.
- Where in Malaysia the meeting took place. The reports do not name the city.
- Whether the coverage is independent. Both full reports carry the same Kyodo News text, so they are not separate accounts.
- Min Aung Hlaing met Prime Minister Anwar in Malaysia on October 8. Reported by a single source so far
- The visit is his first to Malaysia since the February 2021 military coup. Reported by a single source so far
- Malaysia repatriated about 1,500 detained Myanmar nationals in September, out of a planned total of about 5,000. Reported by a single source so far