ASEAN to discuss Myanmar election observers at October summit

Myanmar’s regime has invited the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to send observers for planned year-end elections, and the regional bloc will discuss the request during a regional summit later this month, Malaysia’s foreign ministry has said.

The invitation to send election observers was extended to all ASEAN member states, the ministry said in a statement on Friday night.

“The foreign minister noted the invitation extended to ASEAN member states to send election observers. For Malaysia, the invitation was addressed to Malaysia’s Election Commission,” the ministry stated.

The statement did not refer to reports in Myanmar’s state media on Friday that Malaysia will send observer teams for the contentious general election, set to be held in phases starting December 28.