Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan visited the Myanmar capital of Naypyidaw on October 9, 2025 for talks amid renewed ceasefire violations, as a representative of Asean chair, Malaysia. — Picture from Facebook/Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan
By Malay Mail
Saturday, 11 Oct 2025 9:59 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — A group of Malaysian academics and policy experts today urged Wisma Putra to maintain Malaysia’s principled stance on Myanmar and not allow its position to be misrepresented by the junta following claims published in a junta-run newspaper.
The Myanmar Expert Study Group, convened by Universiti Malaya, and the Malaysian Advisory Group on Myanmar expressed concern over a report in The Global New Light of Myanmar that quoted Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan – known locally as Tok Mat – as being supportive of the junta’s planned elections during his visit to Naypyidaw earlier this week.
“We view this reported ‘news’ summary with concern and suspicion. The junta’s insistence on conducting elections that are neither free, fair, nor inclusive to give the Myanmar governing authorities a veneer of legitimacy is a sham,” the groups said in a joint media statement.
In a news article titled “Prime Minister holds talks with Malaysian FM and party” dated October 10, The Global New Light of Myanmar reported that Mohamad and the Myanmar representatives “cordially exchanged views on friendly relations between the two countries, promotion of cooperation in all sectors including… preparations to hold a free and fair multiparty democratic general election successfully, further enhancement of relations between the two countries, and further promotion of positive cooperation in the ASEAN and international landscapes”.
The Myanmar Expert Study Group and the Malaysian Advisory Group on Myanmar said Putrajaya’s engagements with Naypyidaw should continue to prioritise humanitarian aid and the cessation of violence, in line with Asean’s Five-Point Consensus.
The contentious news article about what transpired with the Myanmar government when Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan visited Naypyidaw on October 9, 2025.
The statement also called on Malaysia to engage openly with all parties to the conflict — including the National Unity Government, Ethnic Resistance Organisations and civil society groups — and not only the junta.
“We therefore urge Wisma Putra and the Foreign Minister to continue to uphold the principled stand that Malaysia has taken throughout its Asean Chairmanship on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, and to ensure that Asean’s position is not manipulated or misrepresented by the Myanmar junta,” the groups added.
The two policy groups also condemned recent violence in Myanmar, including a paramotor attack on civilians in Sagaing, as evidence that the junta has no intention of complying with Asean’s peace commitments.
