RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin may attend the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this weekend, with a final decision expected today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed.
Anwar, who recently met Putin in Beijing, said the Russian leader had expressed keen interest in attending the regional summit and had promised to give it serious consideration.
"I have officially invited him and, during our meeting in Beijing, he said he would seriously consider it,” Anwar told reporters after delivering the keynote address at the PNB Knowledge Forum 2025.
“For now, only the Russian Deputy Prime Minister has been confirmed, but the final decision on whether President Putin himself will attend is expected today,” he said.
Anwar added that Putin’s presence at the summit would reflect Russia’s strategic engagement with ASEAN and its interest in the region. “I think it is likely, as he said he is keen to come,” he noted.
During the forum, Anwar also underscored his administration’s focus on governance reforms, transparency and the need for bold policy shifts to address challenges in what he described as a “post-normal era” of global affairs.
“Good governance is my responsibility — to reform and challenge the political and business culture that in the past wasted public resources without consequences, and to deal with people of influence who have global networks,” he said.
Anwar revealed that the government had successfully curbed economic leakages and smuggling activities worth RM15.5 billion by strengthening enforcement agencies and taking firm action against long-standing cartels and syndicates.
He also defended the government’s recent decision to end the RM1.1 billion annual chicken subsidy, stating it was intended to dismantle cartel dependence on public funds and ensure subsidies are directed only to those in genuine need.
“This policy starts with governance… and it can be absorbed and implemented successfully,” Anwar said.
On the issue of digital transformation, the Prime Minister stressed that the government is determined to ensure rural communities are not left behind in the artificial intelligence (AI) era, particularly in terms of access and opportunity.
He emphasised that economic growth must be felt broadly across all segments of society and not just concentrated in urban or elite circles. - October 21, 2025
