KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Asean member states to uphold Asean Centrality as the region’s guiding principle amid rising global tensions and uncertainty.
Speaking at the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Anwar emphasised the need for the regional bloc to remain resilient and to continue serving as the primary platform for dialogue and cooperation, even as global power dynamics become increasingly volatile.
Anwar expressed deep concern over ongoing international crises—including conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and Myanmar—and called on Asean to uphold rules-based multilateralism even when others retreat. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s strong support for Timor-Leste’s full Asean membership and reminded delegates that Asean’s strength lies not in the absence of challenges.
But in the commitment to manage them through mutual respect and consensus. The AMM and related meetings, held under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship, convene over 1,500 regional and international delegates under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
