Anwar warns global order lacks direction, calls for renewed international cooperation

THE world is experiencing a deficit of clear leadership direction rather than a lack of power, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday, as he called for stronger international cooperation and institutional reform to address growing geopolitical instability.

Delivering the opening address at the 31st Nikkei Forum under the theme “Working Together for a More Resilient and Prosperous Asia,” Anwar urged global leaders to adopt a renewed sense of purpose in managing uncertainty and navigating an increasingly fragmented international environment.

He said effective leadership today required clarity of direction in the face of unpredictable global challenges, drawing on a maritime metaphor to illustrate the importance of guidance amid turbulence.

“The world of today does not lack power, but rather a clear direction.

“Institutions need reform rather than abandonment, cooperation must take precedence over division, and leadership must be about initiative rather than resignation.

“Ancient sailors could not predict the arrival of storms. They could not control the currents, nor could they see what lay beyond each horizon. What they had was a clear sense of direction,” Bernama reported him saying.

Anwar stressed that global institutions must be strengthened rather than discarded, arguing that multilateral cooperation remains essential for managing geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and structural global challenges.

“If we continue to adhere to these principles, I truly believe that we can transform today’s challenges into opportunities for tomorrow,” he said.

His remarks came as part of the opening session of the forum, where regional leaders and policymakers gathered to discuss Asia’s strategic resilience amid rising global uncertainty and shifting power dynamics.

Anwar’s intervention reflects Malaysia’s broader diplomatic positioning, which has increasingly emphasised cooperation, institutional renewal and regional stability as key pillars for navigating an evolving global order. - June 10, 2026