Pitching Malaysia as a “safe haven” for investment amid de-risking moves by Western nations, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on May 23 stressed the need to forge regional economic ties, according to an Anadolu report.
Anwar said: “Notwithstanding all these conflicts (in Gaza and Ukraine) … Malaysia, ASEAN, and the region should forge using economic policies, economic fundamentals, economic strengths, investments, and trade.”
Addressing the Nikkei Forum in the Japanese capital Tokyo, Anwar said such policies would allow regional governments “to champion the cause of our citizens and elevate the living conditions of our people.”
Malaysia will take over as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional bloc of 10 nations, next year.
Opposing Russia’s war on Ukraine, Anwar said there were “contentious” issues between China and the US, and that the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Biden last November in San Francisco was “commendable and welcome.”
The Malaysian prime minister, however, said: “We want to continue to engage with Russia notwithstanding the differences.”
Anwar also stressed “using regional, sub-regional strength instead of being too disturbed and obsessed by developments abroad which we have limited capability to resolve.”