Anwar Reaffirms Commitment to ASEAN Cohesion, Maintains Strong Ties with Cambodia
By Nabilah Saleh
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to ASEAN cohesion and constructive engagement with regional partners amid complex geopolitical challenges and growing concerns over cross-border repression.
In an interview with Al Jazeera's 101 East, released Thursday on the channel's YouTube platform, Anwar stressed the importance of ASEAN remaining united as the region faces mounting pressure from major powers and intensifying trade tensions.
bootstrap slideshow
'We have been quite cohesive. I think we need to strengthen that bond together in this changing geopolitical environment.
'The focus is on intra-trade, investment, and taking a common position vis-à-vis the big powers and our neighbours,' he said during the interview with senior journalist Mary Ann Jolley.
Anwar also described Malaysia's relations with neighbouring countries as 'excellent' and emphasised that many regional issues are best resolved through direct personal engagement.
He reiterated that ASEAN centrality must remain a core guiding principle as the region faces new global trade dynamics, including tariff policies that could impact member states.
While acknowledging that tariff changes, particularly from the United States (US), could adversely affect Malaysia, he said : 'If we can secure ASEAN unity and cohesion, we may be able to slightly mitigate the impact.'
Malaysia currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship for 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
32 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia needs to recalibrate long-term strategy
THE strategic rivalry between the United States and China has intensified in recent years, evolving into a long-term contest for primacy across technology, trade, ideology and defence. While the epicentres of this contest may lie in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea and East Asian high-tech corridors, the ramifications reverberate far into Southeast Asia — placing heightened expectations on the foreign and defence policies of niched powers such as Malaysia. For Malaysia, the stakes have never been higher. After all, our strategic geography — located along the vital sea lanes of the Malacca Strait, a maritime choke point further connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans — renders our country a natural focal point in this zero-sum contest. But unlike the US or China, Malaysia does not seek hegemony. Instead, it seeks relevance through diplomacy, strategic autonomy and non-alignment. However, such a posture is becoming harder to sustain when both great powers demand visible allegiance — whether in the form of defence procurement, port access or rhetorical support in multilateral forums. Recent developments only underscore this pressure. The US has called for Indo-Pacific partners to commit up to five per cent of their gross domestic product on defence spending, an unrealistic ask for a country like Malaysia, which is still navigating post-Covid-19 pandemic economic recovery. Similarly, great powers continue to deepen its presence in the South and East China Seas, testing the limits of many countries on their exclusive economic zone, as evidenced by repeated forays of their defence assets in these waters. While Malaysia has lodged diplomatic protests on some of these incursions, it has not escalated these incidents publicly, preferring quiet diplomacy without acquiescence and occasionally airing the concerns in institutional mechanisms such as Asean; often behind closed doors. But the room for ambiguity is narrowing. The revival of US-led security coalitions such as the Quad (with India, Japan, and Australia) and AUKUS (with Australia and the United Kingdom), as well as the Five Power Defence Arrangements (Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK), demonstrates that security alignments are being reconfigured. These alliances suggest a rebalancing of defence resources and infrastructure away from ad hoc deterrence and towards integrated defence ecosystems. Thus, what is Malaysia's long-term strategy in navigating this geopolitical rivalry? FIRST, we must clearly articulate a doctrine of strategic autonomy. It involves having sufficient economic, diplomatic and defence capabilities to independently determine national interests without succumbing to pressure from any single external actor. SECOND, we should deepen multilateralism. As Asean chair, Malaysia has a unique platform to reinvigorate regional diplomacy, particularly through the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus, the East Asia Summit, and the Asean Regional Forum. They should be retooled to facilitate Track 1.5 and Track 2.0 dialogues that can defuse tensions and offer third-party mediation options in flashpoints in IndoChina such as Myanmar or the Thailand-Cambodia border skirmish; of which the latter is being adeptly handled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Asean chair. THIRD, Malaysia's defence modernisation must be calibrated and intelligent. We should prioritise unmanned systems, cyberdefence and maritime domain awareness — areas that offer asymmetrical advantages. The recent acquisition of Turkish-made drones and the partnership with the UK, France and South Korea on defence industrial collaboration provide a useful template. FOURTH, Malaysian diplomacy must evolve in line with 21st-century expectations. This involves embedding economic statecraft into foreign policy. The China-US contest is as much about 5G networks, semiconductors and artificial intelligence supply chains as it is about military deployment. Malaysia's participation in frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and digital economy partnerships can serve as hedging tools against overdependence. LASTLY, the political leadership must communicate this complexity to the public. Geopolitics can no longer be confined to bureaucratic corridors. The Malaysian public needs to understand why defence spending, diplomatic engagements and new partnerships matter in ensuring national sovereignty, food security and economic resilience. A well-informed populace can be a bulwark against foreign misinformation and manipulation.
Barnama
35 minutes ago
- Barnama
KPJ Healthcare Showcases AI-powered Future Of Patient Care At AiNNOVATION 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) -- KPJ Healthcare Bhd is inviting the public to discover how innovation is transforming patient care at AiNNOVATION 2025, a four-day experiential showcase being held at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, from yesterday until Sunday. In a statement today, KPJ Healthcare said the showcase themed "Driving Innovation and Inclusivity Through AI (Artificial Intelligence)' offers visitors a glimpse into the group's efforts to enhance patient experiences using cutting-edge technologies, including AI-assisted diagnostics, digital health records and robotic rehabilitation. The statement said that one of the event's key attractions is the Patient Journey Booth, an immersive showcase that takes visitors through a simulated care journey, from the initial consultation to post-treatment follow-up, integrating digital tools and systems aimed at delivering smarter and more efficient care.
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Distribution Mechanism For Ploughing, Harvesting Incentives To Be Finalised Monday
PUTRAJAYA, June 13 (Bernama) -- The mechanism for distributing ploughing and harvesting incentives to padi farmers will be finalised this Monday (June 16), according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM). In a statement today, the ministry said the matter will be discussed during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on National Food Security Policy (FSCC). 'It is emphasised that all measures taken are based on engagement with industry players, service providers and padi farmers. 'Further information regarding the incentives will be shared soon,' the statement said. On June 11 last year, KPKM announced an increase in the ploughing incentive and introduced a harvesting incentive, offering a total of RM210 in cash aid per hectare to padi farmers each season. The assistance is expected to benefit 130,000 padi farmers across Peninsular Malaysia. However, Kota Siputeh assemblyman Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir yesterday claimed that farmers have yet to receive the incentive payments, despite the announcement being made a year ago. The ministry said it acknowledged the claim and stressed that the MADANI government always prioritises the welfare and interests of padi farmers. 'Various improvements have been and are being planned to ensure that all incentives are distributed fairly, accurately and effectively.
