KUALA LUMPUR: Breaking from traditional supply patterns, Malaysia is aggressively expanding global partnerships from Türkiye to China to strengthen energy security and secure alternative sources in key sectors such as liquefied natural gas and semiconductors, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the approach reflects a deliberate shift from reliance on conventional suppliers as Putrajaya broadens engagement with multiple countries to ensure resilience in strategic industries.
"We work very closely with Türkiye… all fields including LNG, semiconductor, we are exploring in a very aggressive manner.
"And you know President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan is not an easy man to deal with this stuff.
"When he wants something done, it means he wants it done yesterday. Similar with me – that’s why we become great friends," he said at the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue 2026 here on Tuesday (April 7).
Anwar said Malaysia is no longer confined to traditional procurement routes, adding that the country is actively seeking alternatives beyond its usual partners.
"You assume it must be from there – you want Boeing, you go to the US, or Airbus, to (Europe).
"But we also go to Spain and China, and negotiate whether they can supply or not," he said.
He stressed that Malaysia does not subscribe to a "truncated viewpoint" tied to traditional allies, but instead adopts a more flexible and pragmatic approach in securing its economic and energy interests.
He also highlighted the role of PETRONAS in maintaining strong ties with oil-producing nations, ensuring supply stability despite global uncertainties.
"Credit goes to PETRONAS with its excellent record, excellent relations with these oil-producing countries… we don’t have that sort of crisis in terms of supply," he said.
He added that Malaysia’s LNG position also remains strong thanks to both domestic production and international arrangements.
"But on LNG, (we are stable) because of our massive production here in Malaysia and our imports from Australia – long-standing arrangements – and our major success in PETRONAS' Canada operations," he said.
However, Anwar cautioned that some price volatility could persist in the near term.
"There may be some price disruptions… for the next few months," he added.
On foreign policy, Anwar elaborated on Malaysia’s evolving stance within Asean, distinguishing between neutrality and non-alignment.
"The first generation of Malaysians, when they formed Asean, they said this is a neutral thing, but many people had misgivings.
"Neutrality connotes a different thing. I mean, you take sort of a non-committal stance.
"So that’s why we changed the term. It is active non-alignment. It conveys a very strong message," he added.
He stressed that Malaysia’s position allows it to take principled stands on global issues.
"When they have massacres or countries being attacked or colonised, you can’t be neutral… but you can be non-aligned in terms of expressing yourself with clarity by taking a strong position on the principles of justice," he said.
