PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged that meaningful engagement with ASEAN partners must go beyond formal agreements, emphasising that Malaysia will closely monitor their implementation to ensure that citizens directly benefit from trade access and national partnerships.
“Malaysia will ensure our people gain from trade access while protecting the nation’s interests and autonomy,” he said, stressing that Malaysia’s position would remain grounded in the principles of peace, prosperity, and integrity.
“Together, we will chart a course that upholds our traditions, secures the future, and safeguards the wellbeing of Malaysians and the peoples of ASEAN,” Anwar said in an official social media post today.
Anwar also said the visit by United States President Donald Trump to Malaysia marked an important step in revitalising the longstanding relationship between Putrajaya and Washington, while reaffirming their shared commitment to regional peace and prosperity.
“Our meeting was founded on mutual respect for shared interests, renewing dialogue on trade, strengthening cooperation in supply chains and critical minerals, and reaffirming ASEAN’s central role in shaping Asia–Pacific collaboration,” he said.
Trump is the third sitting US president to visit Malaysia, following Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 and Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015.
As when Malaysia prepares to leave the ASEAN Chairmanship this year, Anwar said the visit should not be viewed as aligning with any particular power bloc, but rather as evidence of Malaysia’s ability to act as a neutral, trustworthy, and effective partner.
“By connecting economies, facilitating dialogue, and contributing to stability, we continue to demonstrate Malaysia’s strategic diplomatic role — as shown through the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand,” he said.
At the same time, Anwar reiterated his appreciation to President Trump for his commitment to advancing the Gaza Peace Plan, which he said could help save Palestinian lives.
“My message is clear: Palestine must be safe, free, and sovereign.
“Malaysia stands firm on universal humanitarian principles, striving for a just and lasting peace, strengthening ASEAN solidarity, and elevating Malaysia’s stature as a bridge towards a world that is peaceful, prosperous, and dignified,” he said. - October 28, 2025
