PM Anwar's 11-Day Tour Boosts Malaysia’s Global Partnerships Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

SINGAPORE, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan once remarked that tackling the world’s most pressing challenges requires multilateral solutions, emphasising, “co-operation is no longer a choice but a clear imperative.”

Indeed, this is especially true today, as some scholars and world leaders describe the world as increasingly challenging and divisive.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently demonstrated his commitment to multilateralism during an 11-day international tour.

His participation in pivotal global forums - the Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Lima, and the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro - underscored Malaysia's proactive engagement in shaping global and regional discourse.

Reflecting on the tour, Anwar said the visits, which included official invitations and discussions with leaders from 19 countries, strengthened global partnerships and created new opportunities to enhance the prosperity of the nation and its people amid the uncertainties of the global geopolitical landscape.

Over the period, he met, among others, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as well as ASEAN leaders such as the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Dr Alan Chong, Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the prime minister’s international tour could not have come at a better time to navigate Malaysia and ASEAN through a very complex geopolitical environment.

“When I say complex, it basically refers to Sino-US competition, with these two superpowers forcing everyone, in a way, to pick sides. Anwar is also trying to steer a balanced position, where he wants the best of both sides, which is, incidentally, what I think every ASEAN country wants,” he told Bernama.

Chong stated that with the impending Trump 2.0 administration, which might disrupt things through the potential tariffs on imported products, smaller countries are currently seeking protections or insurance against the unknown.

“So, in this context, I think Anwar going to APEC and talking to like-minded states is a plus for Malaysia, a plus for the entire ASEAN region, and the entire Asia-Pacific because it is one way of saying that we’ve got big existing friendships; let’s not allow Trump 2.0 sour all of them,” he said.

He added that Malaysia’s partnerships, whether through bilateral or multilateral agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), would cushion the impact, highlighting the importance of continuous engagement in international fora.

Describing such engagements as “insurance policies”, Chong said that Anwar’s efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s standing should be appreciated.

“So, I think Malaysia is doing the right thing, because if markets start closing because of Trump 2.0, I think Anwar has made some very smart, preemptive moves in ensuring that some of these emerging markets, among potential future big powers, will remain open not just to Malaysia, but to all of ASEAN.” 

On Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Chong noted that he expects Anwar to drive the grouping towards closer economic cooperation and a more integrated market.

He is hopeful that all ASEAN governments will fulfil the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFAFGIT).

“There's no enforcement mechanism in ASEAN, so we can only persuade. Hopefully, Anwar will be sufficiently charismatic, with the help of like-minded states and neighbours such as Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, to persuade the rest,” he said.

-- BERNAM