Photo : Reuters
The 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings were held on 26 May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, led by the rotation chair of ASEAN, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. As in previous years, junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Foreign Minister U Than Swe were barred from attending the summit and the foreign ministers’ meeting.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that following the powerful earthquake in Sagaing, Myanmar, which claimed over 3,700 lives, ASEAN member states have expressed unanimous support for continuing dialogue and engagement efforts. The earthquake is a major opportunity to revitalize regional diplomacy, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for deeper engagement with all ASEAN members.1
Malaysia as the current rotating Chair of ASEAN, has been engaging not only with Myanmar’s military coup leader but also with the National Unity Government (NUG). At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Myanmar held on 25 May, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan called for the extension and expansion of ceasefires beyond the currently affected zone, which is set to expire at the end of May. 2
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan stated that Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair, is planning another visit to Myanmar to facilitate peace talks with the military council. He added that the Malaysian delegation intends to submit a list of demands from various ethnic armed organizations directly to the military leaders. 3
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said the meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers saw potential for peaceful solutions to Myanmar’s civil war. Thailand is pushing for regional dialogue and coordinated humanitarian aid. 4
Bangladesh’s interim government leader, Mohammad Yunus, said that although the country has recalled its ambassador to Myanmar, there are no diplomatic issues with the military council. He also firmly denied rumors circulating on social media regarding the situation. 5
A total of 54 companies in member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have maintained business ties to the Myanmar military junta and companies it controls following the military’s illegal coup attempt on 1 February 2021, according to a Justice For Myanmar report published on 24 May. 6
These businesses, some of which have been exposed for the first time, have enabled the junta’s ongoing campaign of terror against the people by providing revenue through the junta-controlled oil and gas and timber sectors, land lease and tax payments, and the supply of aviation fuel and communications and surveillance technology.
1 Malaysian PM urges continued dialogue on Myanmar issue, DVB, 22 May 2025
2 Malaysia urges Myanmar to extend ceasefire , Mizzima, 26 May 2025
3 Malaysian delegation to visit Myanmar to present demands of ethnic armed groups, Mizzima, 25 May 2025
4 Thai Foreign Minister says ASEAN still believes in negotiated solution to Myanmar crisis, People’s Spring, 26 May 2025
5 Bangladesh says no problem in relations with military council despite recalling ambassador, Myanmar Now, 29 May 2025
6 54 companies in ASEAN supporting Myanmar military regime’s atrocities, Justice for Myanmar, 24 May 2025