KUALA LUMPUR – Asean should remain independent and a neutral zone amid the heightened rivalry between the United States and China, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this in an interview with China’s national broadcaster CCTV aired last night. The interview was recorded during his three-day official visit to Beijing last week.
Anwar noted that Asean was formed to promote regional peace and stability, and cooperation among its member states – and these objectives should be maintained.
Malaysia was one of five founding members when Asean was established in 1967.
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“That position continues. We don’t want the region to be the base for military competition. “That position has been quite consistent although we remain friendly to all countries,” he said in the interview.
He said the region should not be a ground for the contest of power nor should it be allowed to be engrossed in unnecessary provocation arising from the rivalry.
Citing the Aukus defence pact, Anwar said Malaysia has raised concern that the trilateral alliance involving Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in the Indo-Pacific would further aggravate the situation in the region.
“That is why Malaysia took a tougher line on this, and has been consistent in its position since the beginning not to allow this situation to aggravate into military tension, or be deemed or seen to be provocative,” he said.
He also urged China and the US to find an amicable solution to their tensions.
On the domestic front, Anwar said Malaysia is now back on track following the promotion of good governance as the core of his administration in order to drive further growth and development.
He said the government is also focused on stamping out corruption and aims to rid the country of the image.
“We have to act tough against this (corruption), because that alone will encourage investors.
“Malaysia used to do relatively better in the 1990s, in terms of growth, But it has slid downward for decades after the 1997 (financial) crisis. Now we are back on track,” he said. – Bernama, April 8, 2023
