South-East Asian foreign ministers told Myanmar's junta to prioritise a ceasefire in its civil war over fresh elections during a meeting in Malaysia oat the weekend.

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.

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.

ASEAN secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn said some of the foreign ministers on Jan. 19 also "called for the release of Madam Aung San Suu Kyi," the prominent pro-democracy figure who has been detained since the 2021 coup.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since 2021 when its military overthrew the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan says it is Myanmar's obligation, as a member of Asean, to fulfil a ceasefire agreement.

ASEAN urges Myanmar's military leaders to prioritize peace over an election amid an escalating civil war :::: Langkawi, Malaysia :: Mohamad Hasan, Malaysian Foreign Minister "One thing that we know is that they want to have an election,