KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme of ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’ represents a direct challenge to systems that marginalise developing nations, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. In fact, he said Malaysia’s vision of ASEAN centrality also demonstrates how regions of the Global South can maintain independence while engaging constructively with global powers.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar highlighted that ASEAN stands as an example of how South-South partnership can advance a more equitable multilateral order, during his keynote address at the Common Action Forum (CAF) 2024. He emphasized that in an increasingly uncertain world, Malaysia must leverage every regional and international platform to address shared concerns with key partners.

Anwar outlined Malaysia’s engagement with the BRICS intergovernmental organisation as recognition of shared economic concerns with other rising economic powers like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These countries r
epresent significant market opportunities for Malaysia, he noted.

With the collapse of the global order born from the Cold War, Anwar stressed the need for a robust and fundamentally different kind of multilateralism. This new multilateralism should prioritize equitable development, provide a genuine voice for developing nations, and implement strong measures against crimes against humanity. He pointed out that the multilateral system is a contested space where powerful forces oppose progress, yet global challenges such as climate catastrophe and poverty can only be solved collectively.

To foster a fairer world, Anwar underscored the importance of steadfast and credible partners standing beside Malaysia and like-minded nations. He noted that Malaysia has worked to strengthen ties with champions of multilateralism, driven by a renewed foreign policy rooted in inclusion and justice.

The Prime Minister also addressed the challenges faced by the Global South, which are exacerbated by policies made without thei
r full participation. He mentioned that climate impacts, conflicts, economic instability, and cycles of debt have been worsened by this exclusion. Anwar called for urgent reforms in four key areas: the international financial architecture, the international trading system, climate finance and climate justice, and the United Nations Security Council.

Anwar concluded by stating that the time for half-measures and incremental changes has passed. He urged for a choice between continuing with a system that marginalises most of humanity or building a new order founded on genuine partnership, shared prosperity, and sustainable development.