Malaysia Shines As ASEAN Chair With Successful, Impactful Summit – Analysts

By Muhammad Saufee Rosman

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has demonstrated its capability as a regional leader with the well-organised and impactful hosting of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, highlighting the nation’s credibility as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, according to political and policy analysts.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Negeri Sembilan Branch senior lecturer Dr Muhamad Fuad Abdul Karim said Malaysia carried a consistent message anchored in the principle of regional neutrality, in line with the ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship theme, “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.

“Malaysia not only focuses on its own national development but also helps drive progress among other ASEAN countries,” he said during Bernama TV’s “Apa Khabar Malaysia” programme titled “ASEAN 2025: The End of Malaysia’s Tenure” today.

He said among the major achievements of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Thailand and Cambodia, and Timor-Leste’s admission as ASEAN’s 11th member.

However, he noted that ASEAN’s next challenge is to ensure that every agreement and outcome from this summit is implemented through consensus, especially in advancing economic and technological cooperation across the region.

“For example, Malaysia’s state-owned company Petronas could provide assistance or collaboration in specific areas to less developed countries such as Timor-Leste and Myanmar to support their nation-building,” said Muhamad Fuad, who is from the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies.

Commenting on the presence of United States President Donald Trump, he said the visit had a positive impact on Malaysia’s and ASEAN’s global image.

“Trump is like an ‘influencer’ for ASEAN. He responded positively to the warm reception given by Malaysia during his recent visit, showing that Malaysia and ASEAN are fitting tourism destinations rich in culture,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor at the Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia, Prof Dr Farha Abdol Ghapar, said Malaysia as host had shown organisational efficiency despite perceptions and speculation surrounding Trump’s attendance.

“I’m impressed that everything went smoothly despite many negative remarks, especially about President Trump’s presence. The Prime Minister managed the situation calmly… so to me, it was a success,” she said.

Fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Dr Muhamad Azwan Abd Rahman, said Trump’s visit also opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, particularly through reciprocal agreements that bring mutual benefits.

He said this was the result of the Prime Minister’s soft diplomacy, which succeeded in drawing the United States closer to ASEAN.

“Malaysia did not win everything, but neither did it lose badly,” he said, adding that it received smoother pathways for the semiconductor sector and managed to keep tariffs below 19 per cent for over 1,700 products.

According to him, the various declarations and agreements signed also brought positive outcomes for ASEAN’s new member, Timor-Leste, further strengthening a more pragmatic dimension of regional trade.

Meanwhile, Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia chairman Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah described this year’s edition of the summit as a major success in many aspects.

“The achievements are not only in terms of logistics, but more importantly, in the outcomes, including the trade agreement with the United States and progress in resolving the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama.

He added that these accomplishments have strengthened ASEAN’s voice as a more dominant bloc on the global stage, backed by its position as the world’s fourth-largest economy.

-- BERNAMA