ASEAN Centrality Must Remain Cornerstone Of Malaysia's Foreign Policy - PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- ASEAN centrality must remain the cornerstone of Malaysia's foreign policy and the primary platform for advancing regional peace, prosperity, and stability, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Delivering the keynote address at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR), Anwar said Malaysia's future is inextricably linked to that of ASEAN, making it imperative for the regional grouping to remain central despite the challenges and misgivings it faces.

"Some challenges came unexpectedly amidst our tenure – a devastating earthquake in Myanmar, already in the throes of a civil war, the border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, and the unilateral, unfair, and fundamentally flawed tariffs imposed by the United States," he said, here on Thursday.

On Myanmar, Anwar said ASEAN leaders had recently deliberated in Cebu on ways to make the bloc's engagement bolder, more creative, and pragmatic, stressing that future efforts should involve all stakeholders, including the authorities in Naypyidaw, opposition political parties, ethnic armed groups, and local non-governmental organisations.

He said any eventual political settlement must be Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led, rather than externally imposed, adding that ASEAN centrality would be pivotal in fostering the collective determination needed to move the process forward.

On the Thailand-Cambodia border situation, Anwar welcomed the commitment shown by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Prime Minister Hun Manet towards achieving lasting peace, saying ASEAN must address issues with clarity and conviction, while preserving unity among member states and working closely with like-minded dialogue partners.

-- BERNAMA