ASEAN Envoy Appointment Signals Stronger Regional Resolve – Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- The proposal to appoint a Permanent ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar is a reflection of the region’s political commitment to resolving the ongoing crisis, an academic said.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Malaysian and International Studies Fellow, Dr Muhamad Azwan Abd Rahman, said the move illustrates ASEAN’s unified and courageous approach to tackling Myanmar’s protracted conflict.

“The Myanmar issue is complex, but today’s decision signals ASEAN’s readiness to adopt a clearer, bolder, and more balanced stance,” he said during a special Bernama TV broadcast of the 46th Summit: Regional Diplomacy and Global Powers, aired today.

At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, member states agreed to begin internal consultations on the proposed appointment of a Permanent Special Envoy on Myanmar for a three-year term—aimed at ensuring continuity and sustained engagement with the country.

Dr Muhamad Azwan said the proposed three-year mandate is a pragmatic step that allows time to build trust and foster inclusive, ongoing dialogue.

Muhamad Azwan said ASEAN’s readiness to consider a permanent envoy also signals its willingness to confront the political reality in Myanmar in a structured and consistent way.

He noted that Myanmar’s crisis is rooted in a complex power struggle, with the people demanding change.

“ASEAN cannot remain a bystander. It must serve as a vehicle for the people of Myanmar to determine their own future,” he said, stressing that any envoy appointed must be open and able to engage with a broad range of stakeholders.

At present, ASEAN special envoys are appointed annually by the chair of the bloc.

Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, has named former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tan Sri Othman Hashim, as the bloc’s fifth envoy since the military coup in February 2021 triggered a political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

-- BERNAMA