KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for constructive and respectful dialogue among civilisations, stating that such engagements must be founded on mutual recognition of dignity, strength and cultural diversity.
The Prime Minister said the preservation of justice, compassion and coexistence is essential for navigating the complexities of the post-normal era and remains vital to upholding shared values that underpin global peace and stability.
“It must be the polylogue among civilisations, not one culture erasing another, but mutual recognition of strength and dignity. In these post-normal times, values like justice, compassion and coexistence must not be overlooked.
“We must never lose our soul of dignity, of human values and respect for one another, regardless of different creeds and different cultures,” he said.
Anwar said this in his public lecture entitled ‘Asean in a Multipolar World: Perspectives from Malaysia’ at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) yesterday.
Anwar was also awarded an honorary doctorate by MGIMO in recognition of his contributions to promoting global peace and strengthening international cooperation.
Reflecting on his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Anwar said the talks demonstrated a shared spirit of mutual respect.
“We are here on his invitation ... from a very important international leader to a relatively smaller country in Asean. But we were accorded the same sense of respect, equality and level of comfort. This is what needs to be promoted.
“We don’t believe in unilateralism. We need to showcase that every community, every country, big or small, rich or poor, must be given our respect and recognition,” he said.
He added that the Madani framework shares common ground with the “Russian soul” often cited by Russian intellectuals, which he described as consistent in its emphasis on justice, morality and societal balance.
On regional cooperation, Anwar highlighted Asean’s consensus-driven model, citing how the bloc collectively supported his outreach to both the Myanmar military leadership and opposition figures during efforts to pursue a ceasefire and humanitarian access.
“Any issue, whether it is Myanmar or beyond, must be addressed with dialogue, not domination. Asean proves that peace delivers prosperity,” he said.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of cultural diplomacy and academic exchange, noting the presence of nearly 700 Malaysian students in Russia and about 400 Russian students in Malaysia.
He also thanked Russian institutions for incorporating Bahasa Melayu into their curriculum and noted that Universiti Malaya continues to offer Russian language studies.
Later, Anwar held a meeting with Russia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, in Moscow.
