Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (pictured) said he held discussions with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
PHOTO: REUTERS
UPDATED Apr 18, 2025
BANGKOK - Myanmar’s junta and a key opposition group have indicated they will extend a ceasefire to support more aid efforts, following a devastating earthquake in late March in the strife-torn nation, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on April 18.
Datuk Seri Anwar, who is also chair of the regional Asean bloc, revealed the outcome of talks he has held since April 17 with Myanmar’s junta chief and the prime minister of its shadow government in a rare outreach effort.
“There will be a ceasefire and no unnecessary provocations, because otherwise, the whole humanitarian exercise would fail,” Mr Anwar told reporters in the Thai capital.
“My initial exchange with both the SAC (State Administration Council) Prime Minister and NUG (National Unity Government) has been very successful,” he added, referring to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
Besides his meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok on April 17, the Malaysian premier said he also spoke on April 18 with Myanmar’s shadow administration, the NUG, as part of regional efforts to engage all parties in the conflict.
Myanmar has been ravaged by conflict since 2021 when its powerful military ousted an elected civilian government, triggering widespread protests that expanded into a nationwide civil war, displacing over 3.5 million people and shattering the economy.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in late March, which left more than 3,600 people dead and damaged critical infrastructure, has piled more misery on the impoverished nation but opened a diplomatic window for Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
Myanmar’s junta announced a 20-day ceasefire on April 2, following a similar move by the opposition NUG.
However, the junta has continued military operations in some areas, according to the United Nations and other groups in Myanmar.
“Our priority is humanitarian efforts. They must have a ceasefire. They must ensure the safety of all the personnel helping out with the humanitarian arrangements,” Mr Anwar added.
The 10-nation Asean grouping has shunned the junta leadership since the coup began, barring Myanmar’s ruling generals from its meetings for their failure to comply with its peace plan.
“The Asean position is that we should be more involved in the effort to get them to agree on the basis of the five-point consensus,” Mr Anwar said, referring to Asean’s peace plan.
“I’ve already consulted Asean leaders that I will continue to engage.”
In the talks with the NUG, Mr Anwar said he had conveyed that Asean would continue dialogue with it and the junta, while humanitarian support would also continue.
The NUG, which includes remnants of the elected administration deposed by the 2021 coup, and other anti-junta groups had previously opposed the talks between the leaders of Malaysia and Myanmar, warning that any unilateral engagement with the military leader should be approached with “utmost caution”.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who met Mr Anwar for a bilateral meeting on April 17, also pushed for further engagement with Myanmar.
“The involvement of all sides will lead to positive development in Myanmar in line with the Asean five-point consensus,” a Thai government spokesman said, referring to their discussions.
UPDATED Apr 18, 2025
BANGKOK - Myanmar’s junta and a key opposition group have indicated they will extend a ceasefire to support more aid efforts, following a devastating earthquake in late March in the strife-torn nation, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on April 18.
Datuk Seri Anwar, who is also chair of the regional Asean bloc, revealed the outcome of talks he has held since April 17 with Myanmar’s junta chief and the prime minister of its shadow government in a rare outreach effort.
“There will be a ceasefire and no unnecessary provocations, because otherwise, the whole humanitarian exercise would fail,” Mr Anwar told reporters in the Thai capital.
“My initial exchange with both the SAC (State Administration Council) Prime Minister and NUG (National Unity Government) has been very successful,” he added, referring to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
Besides his meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok on April 17, the Malaysian premier said he also spoke on April 18 with Myanmar’s shadow administration, the NUG, as part of regional efforts to engage all parties in the conflict.
Myanmar has been ravaged by conflict since 2021 when its powerful military ousted an elected civilian government, triggering widespread protests that expanded into a nationwide civil war, displacing over 3.5 million people and shattering the economy.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in late March, which left more than 3,600 people dead and damaged critical infrastructure, has piled more misery on the impoverished nation but opened a diplomatic window for Gen Min Aung Hlaing.
Myanmar’s junta announced a 20-day ceasefire on April 2, following a similar move by the opposition NUG.
However, the junta has continued military operations in some areas, according to the United Nations and other groups in Myanmar.
“Our priority is humanitarian efforts. They must have a ceasefire. They must ensure the safety of all the personnel helping out with the humanitarian arrangements,” Mr Anwar added.
The 10-nation Asean grouping has shunned the junta leadership since the coup began, barring Myanmar’s ruling generals from its meetings for their failure to comply with its peace plan.
“The Asean position is that we should be more involved in the effort to get them to agree on the basis of the five-point consensus,” Mr Anwar said, referring to Asean’s peace plan.
“I’ve already consulted Asean leaders that I will continue to engage.”
In the talks with the NUG, Mr Anwar said he had conveyed that Asean would continue dialogue with it and the junta, while humanitarian support would also continue.
The NUG, which includes remnants of the elected administration deposed by the 2021 coup, and other anti-junta groups had previously opposed the talks between the leaders of Malaysia and Myanmar, warning that any unilateral engagement with the military leader should be approached with “utmost caution”.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who met Mr Anwar for a bilateral meeting on April 17, also pushed for further engagement with Myanmar.
“The involvement of all sides will lead to positive development in Myanmar in line with the Asean five-point consensus,” a Thai government spokesman said, referring to their discussions.
REUTERS
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a press conference, next to Malaysia's Trade Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amran Mohamed Zin and Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, following talks with a key Myanmar opposition group, a day after meeting with Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 18, 2025.
PHOTO: Reuters
April 18, 2025
BANGKOK - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will hold talks with a key Myanmar opposition group on Friday (April 18), a day after he met the leader of the war-torn country's ruling junta in Bangkok to discuss humanitarian needs after a devastating earthquake.
Myanmar has been ravaged by conflict since 2021 when its powerful military ousted an elected civilian government, triggering widespread protests that expanded into a nationwide civil war, displacing over 3.5 million people and shattering the economy.
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in late March, which left more than 3,600 people dead and damaged critical infrastructure, has piled more misery on the impoverished nation but opened a diplomatic window for junta leader Min Aung Hlaing.
Malaysia's Anwar, who is also the chair of the regional Asean bloc, said late on Thursday that he had held discussions with Min Aung Hlaing, in part focused on Myanmar's humanitarian requirements in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Before the meeting, Anwar had said he would seek to extend a ceasefire called since the quake. The 10-nation grouping of Southeast Asian nations has shunned the junta leadership for years.
"Tomorrow morning, I will meet with representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG)," Anwar said in a post on Facebook.
"We continue to encourage all parties to engage seriously in the interest of Myanmar's stability and the wellbeing of its people."
Read Also
malaysia
Malaysia takes on Asean mantle but tempers expectations on Myanmar, South China Sea
The NUG, which includes remnants of the elected administration deposed by the 2021 coup, and other anti-junta groups had previously opposed the talks between Anwar and Min Aung Hlaing, warning any unilateral engagement with the military leader should be approached with "utmost caution".
Since the coup, Asean has barred Myanmar's ruling generals from its meetings for their failure to comply with the bloc's peace plan, known as the five-point consensus.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who met Anwar for a bilateral meeting on Thursday, also pushed for further engagement with Myanmar.
"The involvement of all sides will lead to positive development in Myanmar in line with the Asean five-point consensus," a Thai government spokesman said, referring to their discussions.
Source: Reuters
BANGKOK - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will hold talks with a key Myanmar opposition group on Friday (April 18), a day after he met the leader of the war-torn country's ruling junta in Bangkok to discuss humanitarian needs after a devastating earthquake.
Myanmar has been ravaged by conflict since 2021 when its powerful military ousted an elected civilian government, triggering widespread protests that expanded into a nationwide civil war, displacing over 3.5 million people and shattering the economy.
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in late March, which left more than 3,600 people dead and damaged critical infrastructure, has piled more misery on the impoverished nation but opened a diplomatic window for junta leader Min Aung Hlaing.
Malaysia's Anwar, who is also the chair of the regional Asean bloc, said late on Thursday that he had held discussions with Min Aung Hlaing, in part focused on Myanmar's humanitarian requirements in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Before the meeting, Anwar had said he would seek to extend a ceasefire called since the quake. The 10-nation grouping of Southeast Asian nations has shunned the junta leadership for years.
"Tomorrow morning, I will meet with representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG)," Anwar said in a post on Facebook.
"We continue to encourage all parties to engage seriously in the interest of Myanmar's stability and the wellbeing of its people."
Read Also
malaysia
Malaysia takes on Asean mantle but tempers expectations on Myanmar, South China Sea
The NUG, which includes remnants of the elected administration deposed by the 2021 coup, and other anti-junta groups had previously opposed the talks between Anwar and Min Aung Hlaing, warning any unilateral engagement with the military leader should be approached with "utmost caution".
Since the coup, Asean has barred Myanmar's ruling generals from its meetings for their failure to comply with the bloc's peace plan, known as the five-point consensus.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who met Anwar for a bilateral meeting on Thursday, also pushed for further engagement with Myanmar.
"The involvement of all sides will lead to positive development in Myanmar in line with the Asean five-point consensus," a Thai government spokesman said, referring to their discussions.
Source: Reuters
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