PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has briefed the Conference of Rulers on several key matters, including preparations for Budget 2026, the 47th Asean Summit and the upcoming visit by US President Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister said the briefing was part of a pre-council meeting, during which the Malay Rulers were updated on domestic and international developments, including the expected high-level participation of world leaders at the Asean Summit, to take place at the end of the month.
“The briefing also includes Malaysia’s stance on the 20-point proposal to end the Gaza conflict,” he told reporters after officiating the Asean Conference 2025: Future-Ready Public Service.
On Sept 29, Trump unveiled a proposal that includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas and the rebuilding of Gaza. Hamas has agreed in principle to the plan.
The Prime Minister said he also updated the Rulers on other key policy matters and preparations for the federal budget, which will be tabled on Friday.
Earlier, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul informed the House that the Prime Minister would not be able to attend the Prime Minister’s Question Time due to official commitments.
In his keynote address, Anwar said leadership today demands moral clarity and the courage to reform, adding that a future-ready civil service needs leaders who think beyond electoral cycles and act transparently.
Royal meeting: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia (right), Anwar (second from right) and the Malay Rulers attending a pre-council meeting in Istana Negara. — Photo from Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook
“Integrity must be the organising principle, because without trust, even the best-designed systems will fail,” he said.
Anwar added that technology is currently reshaping governance – from data analytics to artificial intelligence.
“The next frontier is interoperability, where citizens should share their details once, and the government should use them responsibly across agencies.
“Each interaction must leave an audit trail that earns, not demands, public trust. Digital government should lighten the citizen’s day, never add to the burden,” said the Prime Minister.
“At the heart of governance lies morality, and without moral purpose, public service loses its direction.
“Our duty is to empower citizens and ensure progress reaches every layer of society,” he said.
Across Asean, Anwar said the administrations of respective members are reforming with the same purpose.
“Our shared task is to deepen trust, interoperability and capability so that citizens everywhere in our region experience a government that is connected, secure and humane.
“None of us can face climate shocks, cyber risks or health crises alone,” he added.
Anwar said Asean faces major challenges, including trade tensions, rapid technological change, the climate crisis and growing calls for transparency.
Although Asean remains one of the world’s most stable regions, he said stability alone will not prepare it for the future.
With 670 million people of diverse languages, cultures and faiths, Asean must evolve into a network of capable and trusted institutions, he said.
