PHNOM PENH, May 20 — Putrajaya and Nay Pyi Taw are working to restore ties nearly five years after Myanmar’s military coup plunged the nation into diplomatic isolation.
Diplomatic dialogue is resuming following the election of former armed forces chief Min Aung Hlaing as president on April 10, a development prompting diplomats to reconsider re-engagement with the Southeast Asian nation.
During a one-day working visit to Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan held talks with his counterpart, U Tin Maung Swe, on a broad range of issues.
“The two foreign ministers cordially discussed matters relating to the enhancement of relations between Myanmar and Malaysia at the bilateral level and in the context of ASEAN.
“They exchanged views on the promotion of existing cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” Myanmar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and his entourage are treated to a business lunch by Myanmar Foreign Minister U Tin Maung Swe at MGallery Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on May 19, 2026.
Mohamad’s visit also came shortly after the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8, where several member states struggled to reach a consensus on the status of Myanmar’s newly elected government.
Since the coup in February 2021, which ousted the elected civilian government, ASEAN has not recognised the military-led administration in Nay Pyi Taw and has distanced itself diplomatically.
Observers said the revitalisation of Malaysia-Myanmar bilateral relations signals a political shift that could reshape regional diplomacy in Southeast Asia and pave the way for Myanmar’s return to ASEAN’s fold after prolonged political turmoil, armed conflict and international scrutiny.
“ASEAN must bridge the gap because in Cebu, there were different views on post-election Myanmar. Mohamad’s visit shows Malaysia has now recognised the election outcome, and it is a good move.
“While some other countries are yet to recognise the Myanmar elections, a recalibrated engagement with Myanmar is now needed,” Bangkok-based geopolitical analyst Kavi Chongkittavorn told Bernama.
Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing attends a meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, September 25, 2025.
Kavi said ASEAN should pave the way for an informal meeting with Myanmar leaders following the national elections to help achieve an amicable resolution to the long-standing crisis.
Last year, Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, worked relentlessly to end the ASEAN-Myanmar political stalemate and stop the ongoing armed civil war in parts of the country.
The move was aimed at allowing critical international humanitarian assistance into the country, which has been affected by civil conflict and a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28 last year.
According to the United Nations, about 3.3 million people have been displaced due to the ongoing crisis, while about 5,000 people have lost their lives since the coup.
Observers believe a peaceful Myanmar, home to about 55 million people, is vital for regional stability.
