KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is reinforcing Malaysia’s leadership in ASEAN and the Global South, calling for a shift from global bipolarity to a more equitable multipolar world order. As ASEAN chair, Anwar has championed deeper South-South cooperation, urging emerging economies to shape their own futures and push back against the dominance of developed nations.
His recent visits to South America, Southeast Asia, and Russia underline Malaysia’s commitment to expanding strategic partnerships and driving reforms in global governance. Malaysia’s alignment with BRICS and support for financial system reform—particularly of the IMF and WTO—reflect Anwar’s push for fairer global trade and financial structures that empower smaller nations.
With the Global South representing 85% of the world’s population and over 40% of global GDP, Anwar stresses the urgency of inclusive, rules-based multilateralism. As host of the upcoming ASEAN-GCC Summit, Malaysia aims to revitalise regional forums like ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit, bolstering peace, trade, and strategic cooperation across the Global South.
