KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia faces a significant task in 2025 as it shoulders the responsibility of leading Southeast Asia as the chair of ASEAN, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
With the theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability", the Prime Minister emphasised that the complexity of the current global landscape requires Asean to chart new roles and directions.
“This is a substantial responsibility for Malaysia to unite the team and harness its strengths as one, ensuring that development remains sustainable.
"Our aim is to ensure that Asean equitably enjoys and shares the prosperity without sidelining any group or region," he stated.
Anwar made these remarks in his New Year 2025 address, which was broadcast on local television channels on Tuesday (Dec 31).
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, said that to fulfil the responsibility as Asean chair, Malaysians must collectively uphold the principle of striving for excellence by finding ways and methods to achieve excellence and strengthen national unity first.
"Before we enter the regional and international markets, our country must first be well-organised, governance must be enhanced, and leakage and corruption must be eradicated. Only then will we gain the respect of being a sovereign, independent and responsible nation.
"This is a great honour for the country and an opportunity to create a new chapter in regional and global agendas, which continue to face challenges such as the destruction, cruelty, oppression and occupation in Gaza and other critical areas," he said.
The Prime Minister also prayed for Allah's blessings in all efforts to develop the nation and successfully lead Asean in 2025.
Laos handed over the Asean chairmanship to Malaysia on Oct 11 during the 44th and 45th Asean Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane.
Malaysia will officially assume the Asean Chair on Jan 1.
Asean, established on Aug 8, 1967, comprises 10 Southeast Asian nations - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The potential membership of Timor-Leste in Asean is still under consideration. – Bernama
