Kuala Lampur, May 19 -- The recent Malaysiakini article titled "Ex-minister, UN experts: Anwar must now drive Asean's Myanmar shift" is a prime example of well-meaning commentary lapsing into histrionics. While the intentions of the UN experts and former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah may be commendable, their criticism of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent engagements with Myanmar lacks both geopolitical nuance and diplomatic logic.

Their central claim-that Anwar risks conferring legitimacy on Myanmar's junta by meeting with its leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing-is not only weak but based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how legitimacy operates in international relations. The idea that a short, humanitarian-focused meet...