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For Anwar, quick wins trump stagnation on South China Sea and Myanmar
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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) passing the Asean chairmanship to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Malaysia's Asean chairmanship, led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, focused on achievable goals while avoiding the South China Sea dispute and Myanmar's civil war.
- Key achievements included signing a trade deal with the US, facilitating the "Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord" between Thailand and Cambodia, and Timor-Leste joining Asean.
- Despite successes, concerns remain over potential trade concessions to the US and the limited progress in resolving the Myanmar conflict, drawing criticism.
AI generated
KUALA LUMPUR – After addressing his fellow South-east Asian leaders before formally handing over Asean’s chairmanship to the Philippines on Oct 28, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim uttered three words that captured Malaysia’s turbulent year at the helm: “What a relief.”
Malaysia’s chairmanship risked becoming a year of diplomatic disaster, with the United States imposing tariffs and armed conflict erupting along the Thai-Cambodian border – adding to Asean’s existing burdens.
