FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands outside the hotel, where Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hold talks regarding a push for a ceasefire extension, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 17, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/File Photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s proactive diplomacy in facilitating a pledge to extend the ceasefire in Myanmar has been described as "highly significant” by leading geopolitical expert Prof Dr James Chin, who believes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is positioning himself, and Asean, as a potential peacemaker in one of the region’s most protracted conflicts.
The University of Tasmania academic said that Anwar’s success in engaging both Chairman of Myanmar’s State Administration Council, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and Prime Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG), Mahn Win Khaing Than, marked a pivotal moment for Asean, which has thus far struggled to address the civil conflict in Myanmar.
"The fact that both sides are willing to talk to Anwar directly is highly significant. He has staked his reputation on finding a way forward, and Asean’s past efforts, including appointing a special envoy, have not worked,” Chin said to Bernama International News Service on Friday (April 18).
During a recent working visit to Thailand, Anwar announced that both the junta and the opposition have pledged to uphold the ceasefire and ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, a condition set by all parties involved in relief operations.
Chin, an expert in both geopolitical and Asian studies, said that if Anwar can help realise a roadmap towards a resolution of the civil war, it would cement his legacy as a regional statesman.
"If he can actually advance the ceasefire and help establish what is known as the roadmap, then he will have already become the real hero,” he said.
Asked whether Malaysia’s actions signal a shift in Asean’s traditionally non-interventionist stance, Chin noted that the severity of the conflict has prompted a rethink among member states.
"Non-interference is usually respected, but this is no longer a simple domestic matter. Most Asean leaders now agree that Myanmar is in a full-blown civil war. Something must be done to stop the killing, even if it’s not military intervention,” he stated.
He said that as Asean Chair in 2025, Malaysia carries a heightened responsibility, and the international community will closely watch Anwar’s mediation efforts.
"The whole world is watching what Anwar will do, not just as Malaysia’s leader but as Asean’s Chair. Asean’s reputation rests on what he can achieve,” he said.
While some observers question whether Malaysia’s leadership could set a precedent, Chin argued that a regional consensus has already formed behind the need to act.
"It’s not about setting a precedent. All Asean countries recognise that the Myanmar crisis is damaging Asean’s image internationally. If Anwar succeeds where others have failed, it will be a major breakthrough,” he noted.
Commenting on the views of major powers such as China and the United States, Chin said global players support Asean-led efforts because they know the junta is unlikely to engage with external actors.
"They understand that the military junta will only talk to Asean. That’s why Malaysia’s position as Chair is so crucial right now,” he added.
Myanmar has been mired in conflict since the military overthrew the democratically elected government in February 2021, prompting widespread civil unrest and armed resistance.
Asean’s Five-Point Consensus, adopted in April 2021, has yet to yield concrete progress in de-escalating the situation.- Bernama
