Former Malaysian MP says ASEAN is dead after red-carpet welcome for Min Aung Hlaing

Former Malaysian MP says "ASEAN is dead" after Min Aung Hlaing given red-carpet welcome

October 8

Former Malaysian lawmaker Charles Santiago has sharply criticized Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for rolling out the red carpet to welcome Myanmar's coup leader and military chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Charles Santiago pointed back on social media to the words of Prime Minister Anwar, who said three years ago at the United Nations that he was deeply shocked and horrified by the Myanmar military's violent crackdown on the people.

Charles criticized that Min Aung Hlaing — who led the genocide in Rakhine State and is facing a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) — is now being welcomed with a red carpet by Prime Minister Anwar in 2026.

Santiago commented sharply that at a time when both ASEAN and the Myanmar people refuse to accept Min Aung Hlaing, who staged a sham election and declared himself president, Malaysia's acceptance and meeting with him violates ASEAN's policy rules and has permanently buried ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus (5PC), meaning the bloc itself is dead.

Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Malaysian prime minister to press for an end to human rights abuses during the Myanmar military chief's visit to Kuala Lumpur.

It also called on the Malaysian government to halt plans to forcibly repatriate refugees, including Rohingya, who face the risk of human rights abuses if sent back to Myanmar.

HRW's Asia director, Elaine Pearson, noted that inviting Min Aung Hlaing for talks on the forced repatriation of those who fled the coup military's brutal atrocities amounts to inviting further human rights abuses.

In response to the criticism, Prime Minister Anwar defended himself, saying that because it is impossible to accept the refugee issue in the long term, engagement with Myanmar is necessary to resolve the problem.

In a broadcast program on September 16, Prime Minister Anwar said Malaysia was not yet ready to recognize the coup government in line with ASEAN's stance, but that an authoritative body was needed to negotiate the repatriation of refugees.

The military chief Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Malaysia on October 8 for a two-day official visit, and the main topics to be discussed with Prime Minister Anwar include the repatriation of Myanmar refugees.

As of now, the latest diplomatic list issued by the United Nations General Assembly and its protocol office still refuses to recognize coup leader Min Aung Hlaing as head of state, and continues to recognize only U Kyaw Moe Tun — appointed before the 2021 military coup — as Myanmar's permanent representative to the United Nations.

MyoTaw News Channel