Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said his government will do “whatever possible” to help Myanmar return to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), following talks with Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing in Kuala Lumpur.

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is visiting Malaysia for two days, marking his first visit since becoming president in April. The trip comes as Myanmar seeks to improve ties with its neighbours after the military coup in 2021 plunged the country into a prolonged civil war.

According to Al Jazeera, Anwar said Malaysia would continue working with Myanmar to strengthen bilateral ties and support its return to the ASEAN community. Myanmar has been excluded from the bloc’s high-level political meetings since 2021 because of its failure to make progress on ASEAN’s peace plan.

The two leaders also discussed the return of Myanmar nationals currently held in Malaysia. Anwar said Myanmar had agreed to take back 10,493 of its citizens. Min Aung Hlaing said his government would accept more migrants as soon as possible. Anwar stressed that the repatriation process must be voluntary, safe and dignified.

The plan has drawn criticism from human rights groups, particularly over the safety of Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Myanmar. The Rohingya have faced decades of discrimination and have largely been denied citizenship. It remains unclear whether any Rohingya are among those set to return.

Human Rights Watch called on Anwar to press Myanmar’s leadership to end human rights abuses and stop the forced return of people who fled the country. Rights groups have also criticised Malaysia for hosting Min Aung Hlaing, saying such engagement could lend legitimacy to a leadership whose election has been widely disputed.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in trade, energy, security and economic affairs. However, Myanmar’s continued conflict and humanitarian crisis remain major obstacles to restoring its international standing.

The talks reflect ASEAN’s continuing dilemma over Myanmar: how to engage with its military-backed leadership while pushing for peace, political progress and the protection of civilians.

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