• Malaysia's Foreign Minister will visit Myanmar to discuss the junta's elections and peace process.
• Myanmar's planned elections beginning on December 28 are criticized as a ploy for military legitimacy.
• ASEAN member states are invited to send election observers amid ongoing civil unrest in Myanmar.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, is scheduled to visit Myanmar on October 9 for talks with the ruling military junta regarding its upcoming elections and the stalled peace process. This visit is significant as Malaysia holds the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the discussions will involve key figures, including Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, the prime minister, and the foreign minister. The focus on the elections is notably controversial, given that the political landscape has become increasingly fraught with conflict and dissent since the military coup in early 2021, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

On October 10, the Myanmar junta announced that Malaysia would contribute observation teams for the elections, set to commence in phases on December 28. Critics, including many in the international community, have criticized these elections as a mere façade allowing the junta to sustain its power through proxy parties, thereby undermining any genuine democratic engagement. Toddler positions like those of many ousted lawmakers reiterate a strong boycott stance, exacerbated further by armed opposition groups actively resisting the polls, as noted by Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

During the visit, Mohamad Hasan emphasized the importance of adhering to an ASEAN five-point peace plan, which has remained largely unfulfilled since its inception in light of ongoing hostilities. The Foreign Ministry's recent statements underscored Malaysia's position on prioritizing peace dialogue over the elections, aligning with past ASEAN discussions that have reiterated the need for a cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access, and inclusive discussions among Myanmar stakeholders, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The situation in Myanmar remains complex, with significant rebel activity and widespread public resistance against the military regime's rule. Despite the junta's attempts to project the elections as a route to reconciliation, many local and international observers view these efforts as deeply flawed, given that many political parties remain excluded from the electoral process, and violence has escalated in various regions. As such, the upcoming elections are poised to be contentious, underscoring the fragile state of Myanmar's governance amid an ongoing civil war, as articulated by The Jakarta Post and Channel News Asia.