By Salim Abu Haniffa

As we enter the final stretch of the 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, Malaysia is well-positioned to build on the momentum and milestones over the past nine months and finish strong, by deepening ASEAN’s ties with the Global South, starting with South Africa.

In a world increasingly impacted by fragmentation and protectionism, principled partnerships matter more than ever.

From our vocal opposition to apartheid, to our unwavering solidarity with Palestine, Malaysia and South Africa have consistently aligned on global justice. These foundations matter. In an era where trust is currency, moral consistency transcends transactional diplomacy.

Building on this deep sense of trust and shared purpose, there is immense unlocked opportunity in our economic relationship. 

At its height in 2012, bilateral trade surpassed US$4 billion. Today, it stands at around US$1.7 billion (2024). This notable shift underscores the opportunity for renewed engagement and strategic collaboration.

Both countries bring unique strengths to the table: South Africa stands as Africa’s industrial powerhouse, while Malaysia serves as ASEAN’s dynamic gateway to the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Together, they can catalyse investment and innovation in halal trade, renewable energy, logistics, and digital finance.

A strategic transcontinental corridor

ASEAN and Africa are no longer peripheral players. ASEAN represents 700 million people and nearly US$4 trillion in GDP.

Africa, through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), connects 1.3 billion people across 55 countries. The potential for a transcontinental corridor across both Southeast Asia and Africa, anchored by Malaysia and South Africa, is immense.

The ASEAN–South Africa Plan of Action (2024–2028) recognises this potential, providing a roadmap for cooperation in political-security, economic, and socio-cultural domains. But implementation must go beyond dialogue.

It requires joint ventures, knowledge exchanges, technology sandboxes, trade facilitation, institutional linkages, and a shared vision for inclusivity and sustainability.

By linking the two regions, Malaysia and South Africa can catalyse a new kind of transcontinental South–South value chain, one that spans two billion people, connects diverse markets, and fosters equitable growth across continents.

This is more than trade; it’s about building resilient supply networks, developing talent, sharing technology, and co-investing in sustainable development.

Shared global leadership

Malaysia’s status as ASEAN Chair and South Africa’s ongoing G20 presidency underscore the growing influence of Global Majority countries in global governance.

As the world’s fifth-largest economy and a model of regional integration, perhaps it is time to consider ASEAN’s inclusion in the G20 following the African Union’s historic admission in 2023. Malaysia, as Chair, could champion this cause – demonstrating leadership not just for ASEAN, but for the Global Majority.

Rebuilding momentum

The planned state visits – President Cyril Ramaphosa to Malaysia in October 2025, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to South Africa during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg this November – offer a chance to reimagine our partnership.

The engagements present an opportunity for both nations to:

1. Position South Africa as Malaysia’s African hub for halal trade, Islamic finance, and energy cooperation.
2. Launch cross-sectoral joint ventures in fintech, renewable energy, and logistics, leveraging complementary strengths.
3. Leverage Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship as a platform to initiate cross-continental initiatives, with South Africa as a flagship partner.

A blueprint for the future

South Africa is more than a bilateral partner. It is a South–South ally with a record of solidarity, shared values, and a shared vision for equitable global growth.

By looking beyond existing trade routes and leaning into BRICS cooperation, AfCFTA’s continental market, and ASEAN’s integrated growth, Malaysia and South Africa can build resilient value chains and shared prosperity.

This is not just a diplomatic opportunity; it is a strategic imperative. As global tensions rise, Malaysia and South Africa can chart a different course: one rooted in principle, partnership, and the promise of the Global South.

Now is the time to reimagine our partnership; not as a relic of the past, but as a blueprint for the future of South-South collaboration.

-- BERNAMA

Salim Abu Haniffa is an Executive Director of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce – Southern Africa.