Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that Malaysia, as Chair for ASEAN 2025, is committed to defending ASEAN’s centrality and promoting its active non-alignment. Speaking at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Anwar cautioned against a new orthodoxy affecting diplomacy and security, risking regional fragmentation and undermining Southeast Asia’s strategic autonomy.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar emphasized that preserving autonomy is about strengthening ASEAN itself, not resisting others. He warned against coalitions that build walls, stoke arms competition, or undermine multilateralism. Anwar highlighted that a stable region requires openness, transparency, and cooperation, not preparation for conflict.

Anwar stressed that Southeast Asia does not need a new Cold War but an equilibrium promoting cooperation without coercion. He noted that ASEAN was built to foster stability, peace, freedom, and neutrality through consensus-building. Referencing the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone as a successful bilateral cooperation model, Anwar remarked that ASEAN serves as a broader platform for such collaboration.

The Prime Minister described the recent 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as substantive, with historic agendas including the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045 and decisions regarding Timor-Leste’s admission and the Myanmar situation. The ASEAN-GCC Summit and ASEAN-GCC-China Summit were noted for enhancing ASEAN’s strategic perspective.

Anwar expressed concern about tensions in the South China Sea and called for calm and engagement with all parties. He emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Anwar rejected the concept of spheres of influence, advocating for meaningful participation by all countries in shaping the global order.

Reaffirming Malaysia’s commitment to active non-alignment, Anwar welcomed the United States’ presence while stressing the importance of strong ties with China and partnerships across Asia, Europe, and the Global South. He emphasized Malaysia’s strategic posture to preserve an open region, assert sovereignty, and make independent choices.