PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a choice candidate for Nobel Peace Prize not solely because of the role he played in negotiating peace between ASEAN neighbours Cambodia and Thailand.
Instead, he should be accredited for the constant roles he has played in the past two decades as an advocate for dialogue and seeking a peaceful solution to all conflicts, said former PKR Senator Yusmadi Yusoff.
"Anwar's momentum as a peace advocate was interrupted when he was jailed but even when he was the deputy premier, he brought the concept of dialogue to all the masses."
The Penang - born lawyer said that Anwar was ahead of his time when he brought the thoughts of Confucianism and Islam into a discourse event.
And the Nobel Peace Prize should be seen as a joint-recipient with ASEAN as a grouping also deserving of it.
"Where can we find two warring nations coming to terms immediately for the sake of peace and neighbourly ties, especially when polarisation is high."
He said that ASEAN's stance of non-intervention, mutual respect and prosper thy neighbour while also advocating tolerance can be a model to the world.
Yusmadi said this when commenting on a report that Cambodia had mooted for US President Donald J. Trump to be awarded the epitome of peace accolades.
It was reported that Trump was nominated by Cambodia for the prize.
In turn, a Cambodian peace laureate also suggested that Anwar be bestowed with the ASEAN-level Ramon Magsaysay Award.
For Yusmadi, it is a deserving gesture, but he pointed out that certain parties in Cambodia misunderstood the initial initiative for both Anwar and ASEAN to be given the peace prize.
It is for a long-standing tradition for peace.
This is what makes Anwar and the regional grouping he now leads, stand out from above the rest, said Yusmadi.
Thus, he hopes that there can be a momentum within the region for both Anwar and the group of 11 nations to be rewarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. - August 19, 2025
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