Southeast Asian foreign ministers are gathering for their first meeting this year under the regional bloc’s new chair, Malaysia, seeking a breakthrough over Myanmar’s drawn-out civil war and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

A 21-year-old Myanmar worker sustained serious injuries after his right hand was caught in a sugar crusher machine at a factory on Jalan Jelapang,

Southeast Asian nations told Myanmar's military government on Sunday its plan to hold an election amid an escalating civil war should not be its priority, urging the junta to start dialogue and end hostilities immediately.

With much of the world focusing on other geopolitical issues, the Rohingyas hope that their plight will not be forgotten.

Malaysia has appointed a new ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar to try and implement the regional bloc’s stalled peace plan for the war-torn country.

Myanmar’s junta now only controls 21% of the country. Even if the regime can be ousted, there are increasing fears the country will split along ethnic lines.

In a world increasingly defined by great power rivalries, Malaysia’s position as a middle power within ASEAN has never been more critical.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Malaysia, as the new Asean chairman, to follow up on the United Nations Security Council’s resolution to impose an arms embargo on the junta-led Myanmar. HRW’s Asia director Elaine Pearson said the move is crucial as the junta continues its “scorched earth” tactics by raining airstrikes at hospitals,

While committed to regional issues, Malaysia is tempering expectations for immediate solutions, acknowledging the complexity of both crises.

(Reuters) - Foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN at a weekend retreat upheld their decision to bar Myanmar’s ruling generals from their summits and limit the country's participation to a non-political level, said Malaysia who currently holds the chairmanship on Monday.

Malaysian diplomat Othman Hashim faces the weary task of engaging the junta and persuading it to abide by a Five-Point Consensus ASEAN drew up after the coup.

ASEAN's fifth envoy to Myanmar, Tan Sri Othman Hashim, appointed during the bloc's meeting of foreign ministers.