Malaysia to Raise Myanmar Election Plans at ASEAN Summit

2 days ago 9

October 12, 2025 | 10:01 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysia will raise Myanmar's plan to hold general elections and invite ASEAN member states to send election observers at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month. The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this will be one of the agenda items discussed with regional leaders.

As reported by The Star, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan emphasized that Myanmar must conduct the upcoming general elections in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner, involving all political parties and stakeholders across the country.

"As Chair of ASEAN, this matter will be raised and discussed by ASEAN member states at the upcoming Summit in Kuala Lumpur," the ministry said in a statement last Friday, according to a Bernama report.

The statement did not refer to reports in Myanmar state media, as reported by CNA, that Malaysia would send an observer team for the controversial general elections, which are scheduled to be held in stages starting December 28, 2025.

Meeting with the Myanmar Junta

The statement came after Mohamad Hasan paid a one-day working visit to Nay Pyi Taw on October 9. During the visit, he met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC), and Interim President of Myanmar; Prime Minister and Minister of National Planning U Nyo Saw; and Foreign Minister U Than Swe.

During the meeting, Mohamad stated that the SSPC had invited ASEAN member states to send election observers. The invitation to Malaysia was addressed to the Malaysian Election Commission (SPR).

The SSPC is known to be planning to hold general elections on December 28.

Controversial Election

Critics and many Western countries view the elections as a sham designed to legitimize military rule through proxy political parties.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a 2021 military coup ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and sparked an armed uprising that has left much of the country under junta control.

Malaysia and Myanmar are both members of ASEAN, which has banned Myanmar's military leaders from its meetings since 2022, citing their failure to adopt a five-point peace roadmap agreed to by the top general.

Malaysia currently chairs ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The vote in Myanmar will be held amid a bitter civil war, with major opposition groups banned and a new electoral law favoring military-backed parties.

Fifty-seven political parties have registered for the election, six of which plan to contest nationwide, state media reported.

Implementation of the 5PC

In addition to discussing the elections, Mohamad also emphasized the importance of implementing the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which includes an end to violence, the distribution of humanitarian aid, and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders in Myanmar.

He expressed Malaysia's readiness to facilitate the creation of a neutral and conducive environment for inclusive dialogue.

According to a statement from the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohamad also conveyed to the SSPC Chair and Foreign Minister the aspirations of Myanmar stakeholders.

These aspirations are the result of meetings Malaysia has held with various groups in Myanmar since it assumed the ASEAN Chair earlier this year.

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