KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia prepares to assume the Asean chairmanship in 2025, the country will strive to lead with moral character, as stressed upon in the principles of Malaysia Madani, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said this entails a civil and inclusive approach that celebrates interconnectivity.
Anwar said that in upholding Malaysia’s enduring principles of non-alignment and cooperation, the Madani ideals demonstrate that it is possible to act respectfully while being an active player in shaping the South-East Asian region.
"Indeed, for Malaysia, Asean more than a pillar of our foreign policy, is also a force multiplier, and a valuable asset to exercise our agency,” he said in his keynote address at the 37th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) here Thursday (June 6).
Anwar also stressed the importance for the regional bloc to start addressing the underutilisation of its mechanisms, namely the Asean Regional Forum, the Asean Plus meetings and the East Asia Summit, which have been celebrated for its convening power in the past, but now appear to plod along by fact of existence.
The Prime Minister said that it should also be anchored on the fact that Asean’s future development evolves alongside its member states, their national interests, and what the group can collectively achieve together.
"In these times of great uncertainty, it is imperative to redouble our efforts towards further strengthening Asean, to be the key platform in managing regional affairs,” he said, adding that the regional bloc needs to move from mere rhetoric to concrete action and focus on seeking ways to deliver on its aspirations. - Bernama
