ASEAN 2025: MALAYSIA POSITIONED TO FILL REGIONAL LEADERSHIP VOID, REASSERT INFLUENCE

By Samantha Tan Chiew Tieng

PUTRAJAYA, March 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, as the ASEAN chair, has a unique opportunity to fill the current vacuum in regional leadership, and reassert its influence, especially under the leadership of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said political analyst, Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.

He said through strong leadership and collective effort, Malaysia can reclaim its position as a regional powerhouse and a beacon of progressive governance.

Sivamurugan expressed confidence in Anwar’s ability to steer Malaysia toward a more inclusive, stable, and prosperous future, through strategic diplomacy, humanised governance, and economic revitalisation.

“Malaysia under Anwar should make use of his charismatic and transformational leadership to use inclusiveness and sustainability as the main agenda towards strengthening ASEAN Community and 'sense of belonging', via leadership which will be admired by others.

“There is a vacuum in regional leadership, and Malaysia's position as ASEAN chair will bring back the leadership that is missing in this region,” he told Bernama.

Sivamurugan, a political sociology lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said that Malaysia has the potential to rise again in the region, following the era of influential ASEAN leaders like Lee Kuan Yew, Joko Widodo, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Thaksin Shinawatra.

He added that Anwar’s extensive political career, defined by a strong commitment to negotiation and diplomacy, positions him well to mediate complex regional issues, including the Myanmar crisis and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“Anwar’s behind-the-scenes diplomacy, and his relationships with both former and current global leaders, could pave the way for win-win solutions to various regional and humanitarian challenges," he said.

He added that Anwar’s focus on humanising leadership, and his firm stance on humanitarian justice, particularly regarding the Palestinian cause, have earned him respect among Muslim nations, further enhancing Malaysia’s credibility in global Islamic affairs.

Additionally, he stressed that Malaysia must prioritise economic resilience and political stability to regain its status as a rising tiger in Asia, and, via Anwar’s leadership, political stability can foster investor confidence, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and drive economic growth.

As one of the world’s most dynamic trading blocs, ASEAN holds immense potential for foreign direct investment (FDI). With a collective market of over 650 million people and a strategic location, the region remains an attractive destination for global investors.

According to the ASEAN Investment Report 2024, FDI inflows into the bloc reached a record US$230 billion in 2023. While the increase was marginal - less than 1 per cent - it occurred despite a 10 per cent decline in global FDI, highlighting ASEAN’s resilience.

“With its integrated economic policies, and ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity and trade facilitation, ASEAN is poised to become an even more influential player in the global economy,” Sivamurugan said.

As ASEAN chair, Malaysia can capitalise on this momentum to attract investments and strengthen economic cooperation within the region, he added

“Political will and motivation will be the tools behind Anwar’s charismatic leadership. He needs undivided support, domestically, regionally, and globally, to implement reforms and policies which benefit the masses,” he stressed.

-- BERNAMA