Kuala Lampur, Sept. 30 -- Myanmar has become one of Asean's most difficult diplomatic challenges.

More than five years after the military takeover of February 2021, violence continues, millions have been displaced and the Asean Five-Point Consensus has yet to produce the political breakthrough that many had hoped for.

But Malaysia should not conclude that diplomacy has failed and engagement should therefore stop.

The opposite is necessary. Malaysia has to engage Myanmar more consistently, carefully and realistically.

The immediate objective should not be a grand settlement. It should be incremental progress.

Myanmar's conflict has become too fragmented and deeply entrenched for Asean to expect comprehensive national reconciliation th...