Malaysia is preparing to invite Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing for an official visit as part of a diplomatic effort to accelerate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, a move that could bring the Myanmar leader into closer engagement with another ASEAN country.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday that he wanted to use direct engagement with Myanmar to secure the gradual return of refugees. He said Malaysia could develop relations and trade with Myanmar but expected Naypyidaw to take back its nationals. 

Anwar said the proposal had already been conveyed to Malaysia’s Home Ministry and Cabinet. He argued that diplomacy would be more effective than simply criticising Myanmar, particularly because any repatriation arrangement ultimately requires Myanmar’s cooperation.

According to Al Jazeera, the proposed visit would mark another step in Min Aung Hlaing’s efforts to expand regional engagement after years of isolation following the 2021 military coup. The Myanmar leader has already visited several ASEAN countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. 

The initiative has direct implications for Bangladesh, which continues to host more than 1.2 million Rohingya , most of whom fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State after the military crackdown in 2017. No large-scale voluntary return has taken place from Bangladesh since then, with refugees repeatedly citing concerns over security, citizenship and their rights in Myanmar.

Malaysia, meanwhile, is dealing with a sizeable Rohingya population of its own. The country hosts more than 126,000 Rohingya, according to UN-linked figures cited in recent reports. Kuala Lumpur has faced growing domestic pressure over the presence of refugees and has been pursuing a phased repatriation arrangement with Myanmar. 

Anwar said Myanmar had agreed to receive 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia in stages. The first group of about 1,500 is expected to be repatriated later this month, with Malaysia saying the programme will be voluntary and subject to eligibility and other conditions.

The proposed engagement comes as ASEAN continues to maintain restrictions on Myanmar’s military-backed leadership. The regional bloc has not recognized Myanmar’s military-organized election and has kept its senior leaders away from major ASEAN summits since the 2021 coup

For Bangladesh, Malaysia’s initiative could add another regional channel to the long-running Rohingya repatriation effort. But any broader return process will depend on whether Myanmar can provide credible guarantees on safety, citizenship and basic rights for those returning to Rakhine State.

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