Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship Restores Faith In Quiet Diplomacy, Persistent Bridge-building

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia re-established itself as a thoughtful interlocutor and a steady bridge-builder in a turbulent world during its ASEAN Chairmanship, demonstrating that small and middle powers can still exercise agency through clarity of purpose and moral consistency.

Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, in a statement, said in a region often defined by the push and pull of larger forces, Malaysia had chosen engagement without subservience, conviction without arrogance and independence without isolation.

He noted that the forthcoming challenge for both Malaysia and ASEAN would be to sustain momentum beyond the immediate glow of the summits by translating dialogue into enduring institutions and partnerships long after the spotlight had faded.

"If that spirit endures, Kuala Lumpur’s ASEAN chairmanship will be remembered not merely for its pomp but for its poise, not for its pageantry but for its purposefulness," he said. 

The 47th ASEAN Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28, after which Malaysia formally handed over the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Philippines.

Mohd Faiz said the end of this year’s summitry marked a collective triumph for Malaysia’s diplomats, agencies and partners who worked tirelessly to deliver outcomes of lasting significance, and while breakthroughs may not have been possible on every front, the overall result speaks volumes.

He said Malaysia's chairmanship had restored regional faith in quiet power, coordination and persistence, reflecting a profound revitalisation of its foreign policy vision and execution since 2023 - a renewal guided by the Prime Minister’s active diplomacy and clear sense of purpose.

"His approach blends principle with pragmatism, charm with forthrightness, and an unshakable belief that Malaysia’s voice must be heard, not merely noted, and certainly not consigned to the menu," he said. 

In addition, Mohd Faiz said convincing a sceptical United States President Donald Trump, who had attended an ASEAN Summit only once before, to return was a diplomatic coup that Malaysia pulled off with quiet tenacity.

"His engagement on ASEAN’s soil, spirited yet substantive, was both a vindication of Malaysia’s persistence and a signal of ASEAN’s renewed relevance," he said. 

He also highlighted Malaysia’s role in brokering the Cambodia-Thailand peace accords, which were co-signed by Trump and Anwar, noting that while the agreement may not resolve the underlying disputes, it restores a semblance of calm and stands as a testament to Malaysia’s enduring diplomacy.

Mohd Faiz said Malaysia’s decision to include Brazil and South Africa as Guests of the Chair further underscored the country’s forward-looking approach in expanding ASEAN’s partnerships and strengthening inter-regional ties.

During its chairmanship, Malaysia also advanced regional economic integration with major upgrades to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA 3.0), as well as progress in the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).

"As the region grapples with the development and growing utilisation of artificial intelligence with its political, economic and social impacts, ASEAN would be well served to be better prepared rather than playing catch-up," he said. 

Since ASEAN’s establishment in 1967, Malaysia has assumed the chairmanship five times - in 1977, 1997, 2005, 2015 and now in 2025, each time contributing to strengthening the regional bloc’s foundation of cooperation and unity.

-- BERNAMA