Malaysia urges Thailand to step up and resolve Myanmar conflict, must share the ‘burden’

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has asked Thailand to play a more active role in resolving the conflict in Myanmar, making comments that signal Southeast Asia is divided on how to handle the junta that seized power two years ago.

There are emerging signs that Myanmar’s immediate neighbours have been reluctant to hold the junta to account while maritime Southeast Asian countries have been more vocal about the conflict that has sparked a refugee crisis.

Thailand and Malaysia along with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, should also step up efforts to “at least reduce” problems in Myanmar, Anwar said after meeting with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. The Malaysian leader was in Thailand for his first official visit since taking office last year.

“You are in a better position to express many of our concerns that the internal issue in Myanmar has to be resolved internally but it has ramifications or repercussions into the region,” Anwar told Prayuth at a joint press conference in what appears to be the most pointed remarks on the situation.

Prayuth didn’t directly respond to Anwar’s comment on Myanmar but later said: “We are family. Thank you, my friend.”

Since overthrowing a civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup in 2021, Myanmar’s military has been cracking down on opponents of the regime. Security forces have killed nearly 3,000 people and forced around 72,000 to flee to Thailand, Malaysia, India and Bangladesh.