Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamad Hasan will seek details from Myanmar’s military regime about its election scheduled to begin in December when he leads a four-nation delegation to Naypyidaw next month, Malaysian state media reported on Friday.
Myanmar has been in chaos since a 2021 military coup against the elected civilian National League for Democracy (NLD) government – led by Aung San Suu Kyi – plunged the country into a crisis.
The regime lifted a nationwide state of emergency and nominally transferred power to an interim administration led by Min Aung Hlaing ahead of the election with the regime leader remaining in charge of the country in his other role as acting president.
“I want to obtain a clearer picture [of the elections] to bring to the attention of ASEAN leaders in October,” Mohamad said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping, Malaysian state news agency Bernama reported.
Malaysia, whcih will be accompanied by counterparts from Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia for the trip on Sept. 19, wanted clarity on whether Myanmar would hold a comprehensive election, Bernama reported.
Myanmar regime media has reported that martial law and a state of emergency would be imposed in more than 60 townships across nine regions and states, with voting to be held in December and January.
Last month, Mohamad Hasan said that ASEAN had agreed that an election in Myanmar was not a priority and urged Naypyidaw to adhere to the regional bloc’s Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan agreed to in April 2021 by Min Aung Hlaing but not implemented upon his return to Myanmar.
Myanmar is an ASEAN member, but its generals have been barred from attending high-level meetings since 2022 for failing to honour the peace plan. Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN.
Myanmar’s election has been dismissed by Western governments as a sham to entrench Min Aung Hlaing’s power and is expected to be dominated by pro-military proxy parties, with opposition groups either barred from running or refusing to take part.
REUTERS
