Don't let Trump 'trump' Asean, Amanah cautions Anwar
The party's communications director, Khalid Abdul Samad, stressed that Malaysia's long-standing non-aligned approach must continue to be upheld, and that ties with other nations, especially those within Brics, should be further strengthened.
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ASEAN Chairmanship, BRICS Engagement Key In Building Economic Resilience
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, today delivered a keynote address at the PRAXIS 2025 Public Policy Conference, outlining Malaysia's strategy to navigate an increasingly volatile global landscape. Speaking on the theme 'From Fracture to Future,' the minister detailed how Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship and its new engagement with the BRICS bloc are key to building economic resilience and promoting sustainable growth. Tengku Zafrul highlighted several achievements and priorities under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, which he said is focused on deepening regional cooperation. Trade Agreements: Negotiations have been concluded to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA). These new agreements, expected to be signed in October, will expand cooperation into services, e-commerce, and SMEs. Digital Economy: The upcoming ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) is a major priority, aiming to provide a comprehensive framework for a digital economy projected to reach USD2 trillion by 2030. Supply Chain: Malaysia has proposed the ASEAN Framework on Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain (AFISS) to position Southeast Asia as a unified production base for microchips, promoting collaboration over competition among member states. New Partnerships: Malaysia successfully convened the first-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, which could serve as a springboard for a future ASEAN-GCC Free Trade Agreement. The minister underscored that Malaysia's regional efforts mirror its national priorities of maintaining an open, transparent, and rules-based global trade order. BRICS Engagement: Tengku Zafrul announced that Malaysia was invited as a new Partner Country of BRICS, calling it a significant milestone. He framed this engagement as a forward-looking strategy to diversify partnerships and rebalance the global order, rather than an ideological move to disrupt it. Economic Non-Alignment: The minister firmly stated that Malaysia's policy is one of economic non-alignment. 'It is not in our interest to choose between [the United States and China] or decouple from either,' he said, emphasising that neutrality is Malaysia's strength. Bilateral Growth: He also pointed to recent agreements, including a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India and MoUs on semiconductors with Brazil, as examples of Malaysia's strategic outreach. Acknowledging challenges like regional disputes and trade tariffs, Tengku Zafrul outlined three key points for ASEAN to move from 'fracture to future.' Double Down on the ASEAN Way: Upholding the principles of non-alignment and dialogue with all like-minded partners. Continue Diversification and Integration: Leveraging the collective strength of ASEAN's 680-million strong market to 'tide us over' during this fractured era. Pursue National and Regional Reform: Emphasising the success of national reform plans like the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) as crucial for building a strong foundation for regional discussions. He concluded that Malaysia will not drift aimlessly in a turbulent global environment, but will 'anchor ourselves to our principles, chart a course through complexity, and embrace the boldness required to lead.'
