Malaysia to lead ASEAN delegation to war-torn Myanmar

This photo taken on December 10, 2023 shows female members of the Mandalay People’s Defense Forces (MDY-PDF) heading to the frontline amid clashes with the Myanmar military in northern Shan State. [AFP]

Malaysia will lead a regional delegation to Myanmar next month after the junta scrapped its state of emergency, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced on Friday.

Mohamad told reporters the trip will "most likely" take place on September 19 and include the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

"I want to get a clear picture for me to bring to the attention of the ASEAN leadership in October," he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' year-end summit.

Malaysia currently chairs the bloc, which has tried to increase pressure on member state Myanmar's junta, including by barring its leaders from summits, over the ongoing bloodshed.

But the ASEAN has so far been fruitless in its diplomatic efforts to end Myanmar's conflict, triggered by the junta's ousting of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, sparking a many-sided civil war.

Last week, military chief Min Aung Hlaing ended the nationwide state of emergency declared during the coup and touted plans for an election in December.

Opposition groups said they will boycott the vote, while a UN expert has branded the exercise a "fraud" designed to legitimise the junta's continued rule.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad said the ASEAN delegation will look into the coming polls.

"I want to discuss with them whether their elections will be comprehensive," he said.

Mohamad pointed out that "there are still 63 cities or areas currently still under a state of emergency".

Most of them are conflict zones or areas under the control of anti-junta groups.

No exact date has yet been set for the election.