Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing arrives in Malaysia for talks as UN condemns refugee repatriations

From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026.

Myanmar's military-backed president Min Aung Hlaing has arrived in Malaysia for a two-day visit, meeting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim despite international condemnation of Kuala Lumpur's forced returns of Myanmarese nationals. Human rights groups and the UN refugee agency warned that those sent back risk persecution and forced conscription into the military inside an active conflict zone.

Having taken the civilian title of president in April, Min Aung Hlaing has now travelled to ASEAN member states five times — even though the bloc has excluded Myanmar's leadership from top-level summits since the 2021 coup.

The visit has reportedly been characterised as a 'red carpet' moment for a leader once shunned by Southeast Asian neighbours.