WHETHER one likes to call it Myanmar or Burma, both expressions currently point to a failed state. With more than 52 million people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds forced to comply with every dictate of the military junta of Senior General Minh Aung Hlaing, it is no wonder that the people have risen up against him and the Tatmadaw or military.
The cause of the junta began with the personal ambition of Senior General Minh Aung Hlaing to be the President of Myanmar prior to his mandatory retirement in May 2021.
Yet deprived of the chance to have the approval of the then State Councilor or leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD), Senior General Minh Aung Hlaing felt completely slighted. The fact that the NLD has romped home to a major electoral factory in November 2020, this despite a pandemic that was fast unfolding all across the world, not just Myanmar, made for an enen more humiliating slap on the proverbial face of the Senior General himself.
But things perhaps would not have come to a boil had Aung San Suu Kyi intentionally not set out to deny any opportunity to have a face to face dialogue between the "Lady" and the "Senior General".
The meeting that never occurred, to allow Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to explain to Aung San Suu Kyi that the Tatmadaw not only wanted the Presidency but full control of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Borders and the Ministry of Public Security, further destroyed any chances of a peaceful dialogue both before and after the coup of February 1, 2021, which the world has roundly condemned except a bare few such as North Korea and Cuba.
Come what may, the internal insurrection in Myanmar has now become a full blown civil war, wracking up some 14,000 fatalities to date over the last 2 years. These are people who had been mostly killed by the Tatmadaw, although ethnic groups and tribes, have allowed the worst features of themselves to go on an inter ethnic rampage too, all of which have been clearly catalogued by the United Nations (UN) and the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London.
What makes Myanmar an albatross over the neck of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the negative impression that it has given to ASEAN and ASEAN Way, which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia duly noted when he was in Thailand for a two day visit during February 10 and February 11, 2023.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim affirmed that while it is true that ASEAN does its utmost to practice non-intervention, matters within Myanmar have reached its zenith. First and foremost, the 2401 KM border between Thailand and Myanmar are not on a permanent state of alert; as is the 2400 KM between Myanmar and China, the Comprehensive Strategic Partner (CSP) of ASEAN.
The Myanmar's border with Laos and Bangladesh are another massive headache where the latter the Cox's Bazaar with close to 700,000 people have become a humanitarian redoubt with the lowest quality of life possible.
Secondly, the inability of the Tatmadaw to work with the NLD and up to 24 ethnic groups from a total of 55 of them have spawned serious problems of racial discrimination resulting in genocidal warfare against the Rohingya Muslims in particular.
At any given time, there are 200,000 Rohingya Muslims in Malaysia with another 5 million employed with low skill sets also originating from Bangladesh and Myanmar. These are problems that the likes of Malaysia, Thailand and else where that border Myanmar have had to deal with.
Thirdly, wracked by a Myanmar that is in total disarray, this has brought about the unavoidable odium to the name of ASEAN.
Instead of being seen as a regional organization that is firmly principled in guiding ASEAN —- in fact widely touted as the second most successful regional organization after the European Union (EU) —- ASEAN is now mired with endless problems.
Thus, the suggestion of suspending Myanmar from the membership of ASEAN, even if temporarily, should be given the utmost consideration; without which ASEAN would lose its strategic anchor and diplomatic culture, especially when Jakarta is the chair of ASEAN.
* Rais Hussin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of EMIR Research, a think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Dr Rais Hussin
Fri Feb 17 2023
![[COLUMNIST] Myanmar is weighing ASEAN down [COLUMNIST] Myanmar is weighing ASEAN down](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/61643757507_Myanmar.jpg)
With more than 52 million people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds forced to comply with every dictate of the military junta, it is no wonder that the people have risen up against them. - AP/Filepic
![Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas
Polis sedang berusaha mengesan seorang remaja lelaki yang dilaporkan hilang oleh keluarganya di Kuala Pilah sejak enam hari lepas.
[TERKINI] Sidang media khas FAM
FAM adakan satu sidang media khas petang nanti, difahamkan berkaitan rombakan. Kepimpinan tertinggi FAM atau barisan kejurulatihan skuad Harimau Malaya?
![Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721113188_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh
Donald Trump menghadiri Konvensyen Kebangsaan Republikan pada malam Isnin, penampilan umum pertamanya sejak terselamat daripada cubaan bunuh.
![Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71715148599_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat
Wisma Putra melalui Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Muscat, Oman sedang giat menyelaras usaha dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.
![Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112073_PangonHarimauMal.jpg)
Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya
Kim Pan-gon memiliki rekod yang cukup baik bersama Malaysia, menjadi pengendali Harimau Malaya paling banyak mendapatkan keputusan yang positif sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
![Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112865_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa
Kementerian Komunikasi hari ini mengumumkan Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa pada harga tidak melebihi RM30.
![Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719647184_LionelMessi.jpg)
Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan
Kapten Argentina, Lionel Messi berharap agar beliau cepat pulih daripada kecederaan buku lali yang dialaminya perlawanan akhir Copa America.
![MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721105894_AhmadZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Saya akan rindu bau durian - Kim Pan-gon
Menurut Kim Pan-gon, beliau akan tetap bangga dengan pasukan bola sepak Malaysia walaupun dimana beliau berada.
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan berikutan komitmen peribadi
Pengurus pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia, Kim Pan-gon menyatakan perletakan jawatan tersebut kerana komitmen peribadi.
#AWANInews
#AWANInews
![Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar US Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar US](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713876066_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar US
Ringgit meningkat berbanding dolar Amerika Syarikat (AS) hari ini, disokong oleh sentimen dan permintaan yang lebih baik untuk unit tempatan, kata penganalisis.
![Ringgit kekal ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar AS Ringgit kekal ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713876066_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit kekal ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar AS
Ringgit kekal ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Khamis dalam keadaan peningkatan prospek pengurangan kadar faedah AS, kata penganalisis.
![Garrido tuntut skuad baharu B-19 bukti kemampuan di Indonesia Garrido tuntut skuad baharu B-19 bukti kemampuan di Indonesia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720449649_TBHarimauMalaya.jpg)
Garrido tuntut skuad baharu B-19 bukti kemampuan di Indonesia
Garrido mencabar barisan pemain baharu untuk membuktikan bahawa mereka layak bergelar juara bertahan apabila menggalas cabaran negara pada Kejohanan B-19 ASEAN 2024 di Surabaya.
![Mesyuarat meja bulat Menteri ASEAN-China sebulat suara luluskan konsensus KL Mesyuarat meja bulat Menteri ASEAN-China sebulat suara luluskan konsensus KL](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720051183_tbNgaKorMing.jpg)
Mesyuarat meja bulat Menteri ASEAN-China sebulat suara luluskan konsensus KL
Mesyuarat Meja Bulat Menteri ASEAN-China mengenai Pembinaan dan Perumahan (ACMROCH) 2024 sebulat suara meluluskan Konsensus Kuala Lumpur pagi ini.
!['Adalah memalukan jika tiada identiti, semangat budaya dalam seni bina' - PM 'Adalah memalukan jika tiada identiti, semangat budaya dalam seni bina' - PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41719994055_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
'Adalah memalukan jika tiada identiti, semangat budaya dalam seni bina' - PM
Selain aspek kecanggihan teknologi, pembangunan tidak boleh menyisihkan keperluan masyarakat dan ia perlu mempunyai rangka serta dasar yang jelas.
![Tok Mat akhiri lawatan rasmi ke Filipina, bincang kepentingan kerjasama dua hala Tok Mat akhiri lawatan rasmi ke Filipina, bincang kepentingan kerjasama dua hala](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71719887508_MohamadHasan.jpg)
Tok Mat akhiri lawatan rasmi ke Filipina, bincang kepentingan kerjasama dua hala
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Selasa memaklumkan lawatan tersebut juga tersebut juga adalah bersempena ulang tahun ke-60 penubuhan hubungan diplomatik di antara Malaysia dan Republik Filipina.
![Phee Jinq En mahu berehat seketika dari kolam renang Phee Jinq En mahu berehat seketika dari kolam renang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/41646604760_PheeJinqEn.jpg)
Phee Jinq En mahu berehat seketika dari kolam renang
Phee Jinq mengambil keputusan untuk melupakan seketika kolam renang selepas kejayaan menyumbang pingat emas dan perak kepada kem negara di temasya Sukan Universiti ASEAN (AUG) 2024.
![Malaysia, Korea Selatan adakan rundingan dua hala Malaysia, Korea Selatan adakan rundingan dua hala](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41719578796_MalaysiaKorea.jpg)
Malaysia, Korea Selatan adakan rundingan dua hala
Malaysia dan Korea Selatan mengadakan Mesyuarat Rundingan Dua Hala ke-9 Korea-Malaysia di Putrajaya pada Rabu (26 Jun), menurut Kedutaan Korea Selatan di Kuala Lumpur pada Jumaat.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.