Kuala lumpur: The ASEAN Troika mechanism meeting on Myanmar is anticipated to take place this Friday in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, as stated by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. This meeting is scheduled for the afternoon of October 24 and will address recent developments in Myanmar alongside ASEAN's continual efforts towards achieving a peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable resolution to Myanmar's prolonged political crisis.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan expressed his intention to brief ASEAN counterparts on the situation in Myanmar during a special media briefing held with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysia, holding the ASEAN Chair this year, has engaged with Myanmar stakeholders on two occasions, first in February and then in May.

These meetings, which included in-depth discussions with acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected communities. Mohamad noted that a major milestone was achieved during the second meeting when stakeholders commenced direct communication for the first time.

Mohamad remarked, "At the beginning, they refused to talk to each other, but by the second meeting, they started engaging. That is progress," emphasizing that the interim government now seems more open and prepared to interact with stakeholders, signaling readiness to work towards the formation of a democratically elected government.

On the topic of Myanmar's upcoming election, anticipated by the end of this year, Mohamad revealed that it is planned to occur in three phases with over 5,000 registered candidates. He mentioned, "Regarding observers, although invitations were sent to ASEAN members and Malaysia's Election Commission, I told them that we will discuss participation collectively within ASEAN first."

The ASEAN Troika, formed in 2023, consists of the current, previous, and incoming ASEAN Chairs, ensuring continuous efforts in addressing the Myanmar crisis.