Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says engagement is the best way forward given the contentious issues at hand. (AP pic)
PETALING JAYA: Asean should not be caught in a Cold War mindset, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says, emphasising the need to come together and collaborate.
He said the need to work together during “chaotic and complex” times had made the meeting between US president Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit critical, Bernama reported.
“It should send a clear message that we are able to work together and trust each other to resolve serious problems such as climate change,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the 30th Apec CEO Summit titled The Global Economy and State of The World on Wednesday.
Citing the conflict in Ukraine and Gaza, Anwar said there were too many contentious issues at hand, and that engagement was the best way forward.
“You must try and engage, accepting the fact that you may not achieve all the desired results, but this engagement is important, to establish areas that do work,” he said.
Anwar also reiterated that both the US and China – which have been at odds over several issues including Taiwan and military activity in the South China Sea – were equally important to Malaysia.
He said the US had been a traditional ally and a major investor in Malaysia, while there had been an increase in trade and investment from China.
“So why then put us in a fix, in a zero-sum game? For the benefit of (our) countries, emerging economies, and also for the West and the East, I believe the solution is, of course, greater collaboration.”
Separately, Anwar said political stability and clarity in policies were vital to ensure a thriving economy.
He said while clarity and consistency in policies were required, the effective implementation of policies also played a vital role in wooing investors.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said this when asked about the most important tools political leaders from mid-sized economies could use to work with their business communities, and on the economic partnerships among their friends and partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We all talk about a one-stop agency. The one-stop agency does not mean that it stops there. It means that you have to facilitate and accelerate the process with clear procedures and policies.”
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