Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia and other like-minded nations must take a more proactive role in shaping global narratives and pushing for reforms in international institutions, according to Bait Al Amanah Founding Director, Dr Abdul Razak Ahmad. Speaking at a public forum titled ‘A Fairer World is Possible’ held here recently, Abdul Razak emphasized that small and middle powers could no longer afford to wait for superpowers to lead on global issues such as peace, justice, and development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the forum, organized by the Directorate of Communications of the Turkish Presidency (Stratcom), brought together five Malaysian experts. These experts discussed the limitations of the current global system, particularly the United Nations (UN), and explored how countries like Malaysia could advance a more just and inclusive world order. Abdul Razak called for ASEAN to expand its focus beyond economic cooperation and take a more active role in peace and humanitarian diplomacy.
Abdul Razak also proposed a global education initiative targeting marginalized Muslim communities, citing Palestine and sub-Saharan Africa as key areas. He stressed that ASEAN should not just focus on trade but also address issues like global peace, human rights, and international institutional reforms. He asserted that education is a starting point for long-term impact, highlighting the availability of digital tools and the necessity of political will.
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani echoed these views, suggesting that Malaysia, as the ASEAN Chair in 2025, could lead regional consensus on pressing global issues. He noted that Malaysia’s middle-power diplomacy could have a significant impact when coordinated through regional blocs, emphasizing that ASEAN must address issues such as genocide, climate change, and international justice.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Assistant Professor Dr Mohd Iqbal Abdul Wahab pointed to past conflicts such as Bosnia and the Iraq War to illustrate the UN’s failure to protect vulnerable populations. Despite these criticisms, Iqbal argued that countries like Malaysia must remain engaged within the UN’s platform, noting its importance as the only global platform available.
Associate Professor Dr Roy Anthony Rogers of Universiti Malaya (UM) highlighted Malaysia’s long history of multilateralism and peacekeeping efforts. He stressed the necessity for Malaysia to continue advocating for fairer global governance, which includes greater representation for developing regions in decision-making bodies such as the UN Security Council. He pointed to Malaysia’s peacekeeping missions and contributions like the Razali Plan for UN reform as evidence of its commitment to a more equitable global system.
The forum was attended by notable figures, including the Yemeni Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Adel Mohamed Ali Ba Hamid, and the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Malaysia, Irfan Davudov.