KUALA LUMPUR: Cautioning that selective application will undermine its credibility, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reminded that the rule of law must be upheld consistently in international relations.
The Prime Minister said this remains a fundamental principle in ensuring laws are accessible and enforceable to all.
The law should not be used to shield one party from accountability, and neither should it deny another its inherent right to self-defence, he added.
“A guiding, overarching principle, which we may find in the Rule of Law, prescribes that the same set of laws are accessible and enforceable to all.
“The need to maintain this first principle is equally central to our lives as citizens as it is to us as a community of nations,” he said.
Anwar added that while this is the ideal, what is seen in the geopolitical arena is the rule of law being replaced by the “rule of the jungle”.
“We should neither mince words, divert our gaze, nor close our minds, as this is the reality that future lawyers will be stepping into,” he said.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) Conference 2026 at Universiti Malaya yesterday.
Pointing to values and ethics, Anwar said it must remain central to legal development amid the rapid technological advancement, particularly in the world of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Madani Framework, he said, prioritises educating the younger generation to uphold compassion, dignity and moral responsibility.
Lawyers must serve as ethical authorities and moral anchors to ensure that legal outcomes are not only correct but also just, while demonstrating empathy in handling disputes, Anwar added.
He said this shift will enable a more holistic approach to dispute resolution, including mediation, negotiation and conciliation, particularly in addressing domestic and private law matters.
“To that extent, the law degree of the future must encompass the ability to make reliable and rigorous judgments in light of the voluminous data available,” he said.
“Given that we are on the cusp of a sea change, this conference must allow for a significant exchange and advancement of how the law must evolve.”
Separately, Anwar said the government remains committed to advancing the nation’s economic agenda by strengthening public- private collaboration, developing digital talent and empowering local industries.
He said efforts are crucial to ensure technological progress translates into inclusive benefits so that no Malaysian is left behind in the digital era.
The Prime Minister held talks with the Huawei leadership delegation, focusing on Malaysia’s digital future and efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation.
The meeting, he said, provided an opportunity to exchange views on advancing the country’s digital agenda, particularly in ensuring that technological progress delivers inclusive benefits.
The delegation was led by Huawei Asia Pacific president Terry He and Malaysia chief executive officer Simon Sun.
