Malaysia will never tire of negotiations with China, says PM Anwar

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, stated that Malaysia will continue to engage with China despite expressing disagreement with China’s new standardised map. In an exclusive interview with the Jakarta Post, Ibrahim emphasized that Malaysia has clearly stated its stance on the issue.

Ibrahim stated, “The map has been there, and we have expressed our view. We disagree with it. We still consider our part of the boundary as our sovereignty. We’ve expressed our views, and I think some countries in Asean have also expressed their views. Either similar, sometimes stronger, sometimes less so. But we all have to continue to engage with China.”

While Malaysia maintains an uncompromising position in terms of protecting its own sovereignty, Ibrahim emphasized the importance of continuing to engage in multilateral and bilateral relations with China due to its significance as a neighboring and friendly country.

When asked about the possibility of pursuing a multilateral solution to the dispute, Ibrahim stated that negotiations on more complex, multilateral issues can take decades to resolve. He asserted that engagement is a better option compared to armed or military conflicts, adding, “So, as long as countries are prepared to continue to engage and negotiate, that is the best option. Although it is not necessarily conclusive.”

Addressing the allegations that Asean did not prioritize addressing climate change, Ibrahim disagreed, stating that climate issues are forefront in Asean’s vision and resolutions. He highlighted that Malaysia recently launched an energy transition plan and expressed support for Asean’s commitment to the energy transition to net zero emissions.

Looking ahead to Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean in 2025, Ibrahim expressed a desire to encourage Asean to take further steps in addressing climate change. He commended Asean for its bold and effective actions and stated that Malaysia will seize the opportunity to express its views on the matter.

In other news, Indonesia announced that it will hand over its Asean rotating chairmanship to Laos, which will host the 2024 summit. Laos will then pass the responsibility to Malaysia to be the group’s chair in 2025.