Malaysia’s welcome for Min Aung Hlaing undermines its stand on justice

On October 8, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim received Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in Putrajaya with a guard of honour and an official luncheon, in Hlaing’s first visit since the 2021 coup. The author argues that this pragmatic diplomacy lends credibility to the Trump administration’s retreat from international accountability and weakens institutions that smaller states rely on. In Malaysia, rising hate speech targeting Rohingya refugees has contributed to at least nine community schools closing or facing closure orders, while more than 100 Rohingya said they were driven from a village in Penang. Research cited by the author found AI-generated content amplifying anti-Rohingya disinformation, and electoral pressure may push Anwar’s coalition towards a tougher refugee-return policy.