Malaysia to leverage Asean chairmanship to attract global investments — PM
15 Oct 2024
Malaysia is set to leverage its 2025 Asean chairmanship to position itself as the region’s premier investment destination, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament today.
Anwar said Malaysia’s Asean leadership will be used as an opportunity to attract greater economic partnerships and showcase its potential to global investors.
“The 2025 Asean Summit will mark a historic moment as we engage with key economic partners, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China.
“This will be the first time Asean is formally engaging with the GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Such engagements will help expand Asean’s economic reach and strengthen partnerships moving forward,” Anwar said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in Parliament, here, today.
Anwar was responding to a supplementary question by Tampin MP Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa on how Malaysia would leverage its chairmanship of Asean to benefit the country and the region.
Anwar further explained Malaysia’s plans to involve all states in the country in various ministerial meetings, ensuring that the economic benefits are felt nationwide.
Similarly, he said private sector-led events, in collaboration with international organisations such as the World Economic Forum and Bloomberg, will further amplify Malaysia’s investment potential without relying on government funding.
On the South China Sea, Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia’s stance on freedom of navigation, underscoring the importance of abiding by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) 1982.
“Malaysia will not back down from our claims in the South China Sea. Our exploration activities will continue, including at Kasawari, despite concerns from other nations. However, we remain open to discussions and emphasise resolving disputes through dialogue, in accordance with Unclos,” he said.
Anwar also addressed Malaysia’s handling of overlapping claims and recent naval incursions, reiterating that while Malaysia stands firm on its claims, the nation is committed to diplomacy and peaceful negotiations.
This is in response to Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan who questioned the prime minister on the administration’s approach to addressing the overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
Earlier, Gombak MP Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari asked Anwar what was discussed during the recently concluded 44th and 45th Asean Summits and Related Summits held in Vientiane, Laos.
The Selangor Menteri Besar had questioned what is Asean’s “moral compass” and how it can act as a stabilising force amidst rising geopolitical tensions as well as conflict within Asean states, such as the turbulent political situation in Myanmar.
Anwar said the regional bloc remains committed to its consensus-driven approach and affirmed that it will not be drawn to international conflicts.
“Asean has maintained its consensus-driven approach, especially in handling the Myanmar situation through the five-point consensus. While we do not recognise the current Myanmar regime, we are open to informal discussions to engage Myanmar inclusively.
“Asean centrality ensures that our relations with global powers remain balanced, without the region becoming a battleground for major powers.
“Previously, it was the US versus the Soviet Union; today, it’s the US and China. This is why we continue to strengthen our ties with China and other partners like BRICS,” he said.
On the possibility of Asean adopting a model similar to the European Union with initiatives like open borders, Anwar said while such integration is not on the immediate horizon, Asean continues to progress on energy connectivity and digital transformation, particularly through the Asean Power Grid and the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
“Asean’s focus remains on sustainable economic growth and ensuring long-term stability and prosperity for all member states,” he said
The 44th and 45th Asean Summits and Related Summits also addressed key global issues, including the situation in Myanmar, Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and North Korea’s nuclear disarmament.
Malaysia, Anwar said, continues to advocate for peaceful resolutions through dialogue and international cooperation.
Source: Selangor Journal
