Malaysia PM hails ‘significant’ engagement on Myanmar

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday hailed "significant" steps to engage warring sides in Myanmar, as Southeast Asian leaders met for talks to address the protracted conflict and offset global trade uncertainty from US President Donald Trump's tariff threats.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since its military overthrew the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, triggering pro-democracy protests that morphed into a widening rebellion and conflict that has displaced more than 3.5 million people, according to the United Nations.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders were expected to discuss ways to jumpstart Asean's faltering Myanmar peace process and build on recent efforts by Anwar, the bloc's current chair, to bring rival groups to the table.

Anwar last month held a closed-door meeting in Bangkok with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.