KUALA LUMPUR, 15 March - Malaysia remains committed to strengthening ASEAN's role in global affairs, deepening strategic partnerships, and reinforcing regional cooperation, amidst geopolitical uncertainties.

In his commentary titled “The Global South’s Path to Economic Resilience”, published on the Project Syndicate website, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, stated he does not want the decline of multilateralism and the increasing distrust in international relations to be accepted as the new normal.

Instead, he urged collective action to uphold peace and ensure a stable international order.

For countries like Malaysia and other ASEAN members, the decline of multilateral cooperation and the increasing sense of suspicion represent a dangerous new normal.

He emphasized that ASEAN, a bloc encompassing nearly 690 million people, needs to play an active role in shaping global policies and not merely accept decisions made by others, while remaining steadfast in its goals and acting with full confidence.