By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad & Vijian Paramasivam
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s engagement with Myanmar underscores Kuala Lumpur’s diplomatic influence within ASEAN while opening space for dialogue, humanitarian cooperation and efforts towards a peaceful solution to Myanmar’s crisis, analysts said.
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, with the repatriation of Myanmar nationals among the key issues to be discussed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Geostrategist and senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR), Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, said Malaysia continued to carry considerable weight in shaping ASEAN’s foreign policy despite the Philippines currently holding the bloc’s chairmanship.
“Malaysia is, I would say, the dominant part of ASEAN foreign policy,” he told Bernama.
Azmi said Min Aung Hlaing’s eagerness to visit Malaysia reflected the importance he placed on Kuala Lumpur’s recognition.
“I think Malaysian recognition is very important,” he said.
He noted that Min Aung Hlaing had previously visited Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Russia and China.
Azmi said the visit was not unexpected, given earlier communication between Kuala Lumpur and Naypyidaw, including discussions on facilitating humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar last year.
He said the visit also provided Malaysia with an opportunity to address practical bilateral issues, particularly by securing Myanmar’s cooperation in receiving its nationals residing illegally in Malaysia.
Anwar said on Monday that 10,000 Myanmar detainees had been repatriated since January this year through air and sea routes.
Meanwhile, International Relations Institute of Cambodia Director-General Kin Phea said Min Aung Hlaing’s visit reflected a gradual shift from isolation towards pragmatic engagement with Myanmar.
“Myanmar is an integral part of the ASEAN family and prolonged isolation alone is unlikely to resolve its complex political and humanitarian crisis.
“Engagement should therefore be constructive, inclusive and oriented towards dialogue, reconciliation and humanitarian assistance,” he told Bernama.
Kin Phea said Anwar’s initiative could create additional diplomatic space for communication, confidence-building and practical cooperation, including humanitarian assistance and the safe and dignified return of Myanmar nationals.
“The strategic objective should be neither isolation nor unconditional normalisation but sustained engagement that gradually brings Myanmar closer to an ASEAN-led peaceful solution.
“A more stable Myanmar is ultimately important not only for its own people but also for ASEAN unity, credibility and regional security,” he said.
-- BERNAMA