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Malay Mail
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Asean leadership redefined: Anwar's quiet diplomacy halts Thailand-Cambodia deadly clash
COMMENTARY, July 29 — Let's give Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim the credit when it is due. For a while, many were left wondering how he was going to bring together two angry Asean member countries that were locked in a deadly conflict. It didn't help that at one point, a Thai Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying that it did not need a third country to be involved. The spokesman, Nikorndej Balakura, reportedly stated that Thailand prefers bilateral negotiations. But the Prime Minister quietly and swiftly went behind the scenes to orchestrate a landmark ceasefire. It was complex, more so when it involved resolved historical tensions, but certainly with the hard work of our Foreign Ministry, Anwar pulled it off. It is certainly a boost to his credentials as the chair of Asean 2025. It will be awkward for him to talk about Asean unity if the two nations continue to fire rockets at each other. The five-day border conflict — marked by artillery exchanges and mass civilian displacement — ended with an 'immediate and unconditional' cessation of hostilities. It was a swift and effective intervention, the kind rarely seen in South-east Asian diplomacy. Anwar's role as mediator has earned widespread praise, not only for de-escalating a dangerous flashpoint but also for revitalising Asean's credibility in managing intra-regional disputes. For a regional bloc often criticised for its inertia, Malaysia's leadership in this instance marks a meaningful shift. Critics have always dismissed Asean as a talk shop, but continuous talking to each other is surely better than going to war. It would have badly tarnished his image if Anwar had failed to bring the two nations to the table. What stands out is Anwar's ability to bring both sides to a ceasefire amid rising nationalist rhetoric and domestic political sensitivities in both Bangkok and Phnom Penh. The participation of international observers from the United States and China further underscores the delicate balancing act Malaysia managed to perform. In an era of intensifying superpower rivalry in South-east Asia, Malaysia's non-aligned posture proved an asset, not a liability. Admittedly, economic reforms and domestic governance still dominate the national conversation, but this diplomatic victory may offer a needed boost to Anwar's leadership narrative. It shows a Malaysia that is not merely reactive but assertive and constructive on the global stage. Of course, the road ahead is uncertain. A ceasefire is not a peace treaty. The underlying territorial and political disputes between Thailand and Cambodia remain unresolved. A veteran Thai journalist texted me to warn against any celebrations until the frontiers are actually quiet. The BBC reported that 'shells and rockets continued to land in both countries even as the peace talks were underway; it will take a little longer to cool the emotions on both sides.' Still, Malaysia's offer to facilitate ongoing dialogue — and potentially a peacekeeping framework — positions Kuala Lumpur as a long-term convener, not just a crisis manager. Anwar has long been known as a reformist and a consensus-builder. His handling of this crisis has now added a new credential to his portfolio: regional statesman. For Malaysia, this moment should be a reminder of what thoughtful diplomacy and principled leadership can achieve. The BBC reported that President Donald Trump may have delivered the kick with his trade talks threat that enabled this ceasefire, but it is Malaysia that is getting the credit. It said, 'The world was watching — and Malaysia delivered.' — Bernama * Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai is a national journalism laureate and chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
UTM leads education forward
Higher education can serve as Asean's greatest unifier and catalyst for sustainable progress. By bringing together diverse cultures, expertise and resources, universities lay the groundwork for regional cohesion, shared resilience, and transformative innovation. In this spirit, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has taken bold steps to align Asean's educational ambitions with concrete action. UTM reinforced its regional leadership by hosting the Ambassadors' Roundtable for Asean 2025 (ART@ASEAN'25) and launching the Erasmus+ Malaysia Hub on July 3. These landmark events position UTM as a vital bridge between Asean, the European Union (EU) and the broader global education community. ART@ASEAN'25 convened 169 high-level participants, including 40 ambassadors and embassy representatives, 11 senior officials from the Higher Education Ministry and 118 university leaders, under the theme "Bridging Nations, Connecting Regions: Higher Education for Asean Unity". The roundtable aligned educational cooperation with regional integration and broader development objectives. The event concluded with five strategic resolutions, positioning higher education as a key pillar of Malaysia's soft power and its Asean Chairmanship 2025. The resolutions offer more than a checklist of ambitions; they collectively map a pathway for higher education to become a true instrument of regional influence under Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship 2025. First, by reaffirming universities as strategic diplomatic tools, we recognise that academic exchanges and joint programmes do more than transfer knowledge; they build relationships, foster intercultural trust, and knit together Asean communities at a grassroots level. Second, the commitment to expand Asean–EU mobility and joint research in cutting-edge fields, such as AI, cybersecurity, the green transition, and public health, demonstrates a clear understanding that our region's future competitiveness depends on shared innovation. However, scaling these programmes will require careful calibration of curricula, credit recognition and funding sustainability to ensure meaningful impact rather than one-off exchanges. Third, the proposal for an Asean Institute for Higher Education Cooperation aims to harmonise academic quality frameworks and serve as an innovation incubator. This initiative, while ambitious, must guard against bureaucratic inertia. Its success will hinge on agile governance structures that empower institutions to pilot collaborative research and co-develop curricula. Fourth, the call for equity-focused diplomacy to support marginalised and displaced learners acknowledges persistent gaps in access. Translating this principle into practice will require targeted scholarship schemes, inclusive pedagogies and partnerships with civil society to reach those often left behind. Finally, by institutionalising the Ambassadors' Roundtable as an annual event, Asean commits to sustained dialogue; the real test will be maintaining momentum between meetings, tracking progress and publicly reporting on tangible outcomes. Together, these resolutions reflect a mature vision for higher education diplomacy, one that aspires not only to elevate institutional prestige but to deepen social cohesion, drive innovation and deliver shared prosperity across Asean. The highlight of the day was the official launch of the Erasmus+ Malaysia Hub by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and EU Ambassador to Malaysia Rafael Daerr. Housed at UTM Kuala Lumpur, the Hub serves as Malaysia's gateway to over €26 billion in Erasmus+ funding (2021–2027) and will coordinate national participation in Jean Monnet Modules, International Credit Mobility and Capacity Building for Higher Education projects. In his keynote, Zambry introduced "mobiliti minda," urging expansion beyond physical exchanges to intellectual openness and cultural empathy, essential traits for "global thinkers with local commitment." To bring these principles to life, students should leverage the Asean GEMS platform, which centralises scholarships and mobility programmes across Asean. With its multilingual interface and personalised matching, GEMS provides access to over USD 4 million in funding, empowering students to broaden their horizons, forge intercultural networks and deepen their competencies in alignment with the "mobiliti minda" spirit. Successfully embedding the "mobiliti minda" ethos requires institutional commitment on multiple fronts: championing pedagogical innovation, investing in faculty development, implementing ongoing evaluation, and designing curricula that foster critical reflection, structured cross-disciplinary dialogue, and empathetic teaching, all supported by sustained engagement with diverse communities to ensure Asean graduates emerge as open-minded leaders grounded in their local contexts. Collaboration through EU Erasmus+ projects underscores UTM's leadership in Asean higher education by fostering innovation and generating significant social impact. The ANGEL project (ASEAN Network for Green Entrepreneurship and Leadership) united institutions in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia to tackle environmental degradation and socioeconomic inequality. ANGEL delivered robust employability and entrepreneurial-leadership training to graduates and disadvantaged groups, fostering green innovation and opening pathways to quality employment. Equally noteworthy is the FOODI project, a collaboration between Malaysian, Thai and Cambodian universities alongside EU partners. FOODI culminated in the launch of a new MSc programme in Food Processing and Innovation, an interdisciplinary curriculum that, for the first time, integrates innovation management with food processing studies. This pioneering course is designed to transform the domestic food processing sector into a driver of social and economic growth, equipping graduates with both technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision. Meanwhile, the (Digital Transformation in Southeast Asia) project continues to modernise pedagogy by guiding universities in drafting digital strategies, developing train-the-trainer modules, and strengthening ICT infrastructures. will establish an open educational resource portal and regional training centres to ensure sustainability. By sharing green-entrepreneurship insights, pioneering an MSc in Food Processing and Innovation, and building a robust digital ecosystem, UTM empowers Asean institutions to innovate, upskill, and lead with purpose. Anchored by the "mobiliti minda" ethos and shared resolutions, these initiatives offer a comprehensive framework for higher education diplomacy. As Malaysia guides Asean in 2025, UTM's leadership demonstrates that universities can drive unity, resilience, adaptability, and shared prosperity, transforming regional collaboration into real-world solutions that shape our collective future.
Free Malaysia Today
11-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
White Paper on Asean unity criticised for over-reliance on regulations
Economist Muhammed Abdul Khalid said one of the biggest challenges for collaboration among Asean nations is the wide gap between the richest and poorest member countries. (Muhammed Abdul Khalid pic) KUALA LUMPUR : An economist has criticised a White Paper on Asean unity, saying it was overly reliant on regulations as a means to achieve cohesion within the bloc. Muhammed Abdul Khalid said Asean, unlike the European Union, lacked mechanisms to enforce and align laws and standards. He said EU could demand compliance across 27 states because it had a legal enforcement regime and a supranational court. 'Does Asean have (any of) these mechanisms? Zero. It's not realistic to expect 10 countries with very different systems and policies to agree on technical areas like AI, data governance, or cross-border standards within 24 months. 'So, to be overly optimistic that we can use regulations to achieve Asean objectives, I think, is a fantasy.' Muhammed, an economic adviser to Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the latter's second stint as prime minister, said to expect less developed economies, such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, to realign their national laws toward joint regulation would be a very difficult task. He also questioned a top-down approach, which overly focused on the private sector to drive Asean unity. 'Where is the perspective of Asean's 250 million informal workers? Or the 27 million underemployed youth? If Asean wants to avoid the backlash seen in parts of the EU – where economic integration doesn't seem to lift all boats and resulting in right-wing politics dominating, we must be inclusive,' he added. Muhammed said one of the biggest challenges for collaboration among Asean nations was the wide gap between the richest and poorest member countries. He compared Singapore's gross domestic product to that of Myanmar's, and the gap between countries in the eurozone which is much less than those in Asean. In 2023, Singapore registered a GDP of US$501 billion, while Myanmar's GDP stood at US$66.76 billion. 'To ensure inclusiveness in Asean, we must talk about money. The EU collects over 1% of its GDP as a regional budget, while Asean collects nothing. We must stop pretending regional cooperation is free.' Earlier today, the Social and Economic Research Initiative, alongside the US-Asean Business Council, launched a White Paper titled 'Driving Asean Unity'. In his address at the event, deputy investment, trade and industry minister, Liew Chin Tong, said he hoped to see Asean become a middle-class society by 2045, adding that the bloc needed to 'put their money where their mouth is' in terms of future collaborations. Separately, Muhammed agreed with fellow panellist, TalentCorp chief strategy officer Nazrul Aziz, that Asean needed to see freer cross-border movement between member countries, particularly in terms of students, and in the workforce. Muhammed said that over 10 million people work across borders in Asean without proper social protection and less than 1% of Asean students study in another Asean country. 'Malaysia can champion regional standards for minimum wage, safety nets, and cross-border portability, which requires collaborations with other countries, otherwise we are wasting our chairmanship of Asean.'
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Semoga panjang umur': Singapore's Hsien Loong congratulates Dr Mahathir on a century of birthdays
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Singapore's Senior Minister Datuk Seri Lee Hsien Loong today congratulated Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on his 100th birthday, while also extending early wishes to his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah for her upcoming 99th birthday. Lee praised the former Malaysian prime minister as a "seminal leader" who transformed Malaysia into a modern, globally connected, and successful nation through his decades of public service. The Singapore leader highlighted Dr Mahathir's regional contributions, particularly his championing of Asean unity and his recognition that Southeast Asian nations must stay together to maintain and benefit from their hard-won independence. Reflecting on Singapore-Malaysia relations, Lee noted that while the two countries have not always agreed on every issue, they have consistently worked together to overcome differences and find common ground. Lee said that the collaborative work between the two nations will continue under their successors, underscoring the enduring nature of Singapore-Malaysia cooperation. The statement concluded with birthday wishes in Malay: 'Selamat Hari Lahir Tun dan Tun Dr Siti Hasmah. Semoga panjang umur, terus sihat dan ceria selalu serta dikurnia kasih sayang bersama keluarga dan insan-insan yang dikasihi.'
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘Our Land, Our Home': Asean Summit 2025 theme song celebrates unity in diversity (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The spirit of Asean unity serves as the main inspiration behind the official theme song for the Asean Summit 2025, titled 'Our Land, Our Home,' which seeks to bring together the region's diverse cultures and backgrounds through a single melody. Composer Datuk Mokhzani Ismail said the song, performed by acclaimed singer Aina Abdul, was completed in two weeks and aims to convey a message of regional solidarity through strong melodies and meaningful lyrics. 'This song must embody the soul of Asean. I studied the roles, histories and backgrounds of the member states to ensure every note represents the region's unity in diversity,' he told Bernama when contacted. Mokhzani said Aina was selected for her clear English diction and ability to deliver deep emotional expression, which are crucial in ensuring the message resonates at the international level. 'Once Aina agreed, I composed the melody to match her vocal range. This is more than just a song, it is the collective voice of Asean,' he said. The lyrics were penned by Rafiza Rahman, an administrative and diplomatic officer at the Communications Ministry, who chose the title 'Our Land, Our Home' to strengthen the message of unity in diversity. Although the composition incorporates global musical influence, traditional elements are woven in the final part of the song as a tribute to the region's cultural roots. Meanwhile, in a recent Instagram post, Aina described the opportunity to perform the theme song for a prestigious regional summit as a great honour. The 31-year-old singer also expressed her gratitude to all who contributed to the project. 'Thank you to everyone involved in this beautiful piece... and thank you for having me. What an honour... Alhamdulillah,' she wrote. The 46th Asean Summit is held under Malaysia's chairmanship this year, themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability. This marks Malaysia's fifth time chairing Asean, following previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. — Bernama
