Malaysia Appoints Othman Hashim Special Envoy for Myanmar

Tan Sri Othman Hashim has been appointed as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, announced by Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat. Othman, a former Human Rights Commission chairman and seasoned diplomat, becomes the fifth special envoy since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, which has led to a significant political and humanitarian crisis. His extensive experience includes roles as Malaysia's Ambassador to the Czech Republic, the United States, and as a Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Malaysia, under its current chairmanship of ASEAN, remains committed to supporting Myanmar in resolving its crisis and emphasizes the importance of ASEAN's role in this process. Additionally, Malaysia aims to continue negotiations regarding the South China Sea to ensure regional stability. The appointment reflects ASEAN's ongoing challenges in balancing its principles of non-interference with the need for intervention in member states' crises.