Anwar: Malaysia's Asean Summit success driven by efficiency, teamwork
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's successful hosting of the recent Asean Summit was driven by the efficiency, dedication and teamwork of all parties involved, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the smooth running of the summit was the result of the extraordinary commitment shown by the government machinery, including the public, who understood Malaysia's responsibilities as host.
"I saw excellence at all levels, our public servants were outstanding. From the airport, parades, police, immigration, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), hotel management, to the Foreign Ministry coordinating everything, and the Prime Minister's Department managing the protocol.
"Even I was overwhelmed by the protocol, but I respected what the officers directed the prime minister to do. I followed everything. Why? Because we are a nation with rules, and we work as a team," he said.
He was speaking at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly here today, which was also attended by both Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Anwar also commended the cooperation among Asean leaders in making collective decisions while respecting the interests of their respective countries.
"We had to decide on a shared understanding in facing President Trump's tariffs. Each country has its own strategy, which will involve bilateral relations. But we also want to safeguard the interests of more than 650 million people in Asean countries.
"No decision made by Malaysia should harm other countries, nor should decisions by, for example, Vietnam, be detrimental to others. We work as a team," he added.
The 46th Asean Summit concluded on May 27, following a series of high-level meetings focused on enhancing regional cooperation and strengthening strategic partnerships.
Over the two-day event, Asean leaders participated in several key meetings, including the 2nd Asean-GCC Summit, the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit, and the 16th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit.
As Asean Chair for 2025, Malaysia hosted the 46th Summit under the theme "Inclusion and Sustainability", marking the fifth time the country has held the chairmanship, having previously served in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
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