Commentary: ASEAN is losing patience on Myanmar. Can Malaysia push for a new approach?

SINGAPORE: In 2025, the writing on the wall seems to loom larger for Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC) military regime.

Never entirely in control of Myanmar’s border regions, the military has lost ground and support after the 2021 coup, including in Bamar-majority central Myanmar. Its grip weakened further with the unprecedented loss of two regional military commands in August and December 2024. However, it continues to assert that it remains in control and is capable of conducting elections.