VERBATIM TEXT: SPEECH BY THE HONOURABLE DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA AT THE TIMOR-LESTE: BUILDING SHARED FUTURE WITH ASEAN DINNER & FUNDRAISING

VERBATIM TEXT 

SPEECH BY 

THE HONOURABLE DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA 

AT THE

TIMOR-LESTE: BUILDING SHARED FUTURE WITH ASEAN

DINNER & FUNDRAISING 

28 OCTOBER 2025, TUESDAY

SUNWAY RESORT HOTEL, PETALING JAYA

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh dan salam Sejahtera.

1. Saya ucap terima kasih kepada rakan-rakan saya, Tian Chua, dan rakan-rakan yang lain yang membantu menyelenggara majlis pada malam ini, dan tentunya sebagai satu negara yang prihatin dan secara konsisten mendukung perjuangan rakyat dan pembebasan, kita alu-alukan kepada kemerdekaan Timor-Leste tetapi juga penerimaan rakan-rakan ASEAN sebagai anggota ASEAN yang ke-11 pada kali ini. Terima kasih.

Your Excellency,

2. I just can’t believe you are now an Excellency President José Ramos-Horta. Congratulations. You deserve it. And you have endured a long struggle and even your ascension to ASEAN, you made that reference which is penetrating to the heart. You said that it is easier to go to heaven than to be accepted by ASEAN. You must have diplomatic skills. There is a very undiplomatic statement to make. Luckily, you have Malaysia as Chairman. We pushed hard and thank God you have succeeded.

3. Now let me share with you why I took it as both the Malaysian position and also personal battle. Now, President José Ramos-Horta was right in saying that to do justice to Malaysia. Earlier, Prime Minister had been consistent. Tun Mahathir was one of the earliest that gave recognition to the dependents and send a team from the armed forces, peacekeeping. And I mentioned this even to during my speech to the parliament in Delhi. But the next stage of course essential to ASEAN.

4. Well, it is mind boggling. Why is it so difficult? Timor- Leste has always been part of ASEAN when they were part of Indonesia. So, to me it’s just a matter of process. And they happen to be to have experienced such trials, such tribulations, such tragedy. I mean, compared to the population of Timor-Leste, it’s heartbreaking to know that so many lives were lost in the process. From the days of Portuguese colonization. And you go to Timor-Leste, you see new buildings, offices, schools, hardly anything.

5. Pakistan, of course, it is a poor country. Forgive me saying that, President José Ramos-Horta, to share this with the Malaysians. It is. But do we engage with countries because the economic strength? No, we engage countries among neighbors or the region, for their ideals, their vision, their principles, their policies. Just because you happen to be poor at this stage. We were poor when we retained independence. Cambodia and Laos were relatively very poor when they were accepted into ASEAN. Although still took some years. But I must say that the experience the Timor-Leste is really unfortunate.

6. And therefore, when I assumed the Chairmanship ASEAN, I told the team, the Foreign Ministry and the Cabinet, I said, look, our aim is to make sure before we surrender your office to the next Chairman, Timor-Leste must be a member, full member of ASEAN.

7. And the process was tedious. The process was tedious because to become member there are certain parameters that must be met. Legislation, political corridor, economic corridor, too many corridors to reach. Well, they have a problem. So, I said to my colleagues, then help them contribute. We did. We gave funds through the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. We sent staff, many, I did to bring them to Kuala Lumpur or Putrajaya and to send our people to Dili. I mean, that’s what a comradeship is all about. That’s what humanity is all about. That we were talking about. Aspirations, ideals, justice, you know. I mean, a country that been completely devastated, hardly any economic growth need to be assisted.

8. But I am like President José Ramos-Horta. I have great expectations. You know why? Because there’s a moral clarity in the leadership. What the world lacks now is a voice of conscience, moral clarity. And this country, this man President José Ramos-Horta has that which the world lacks.

9. And in Timor-Leste Parliament, I emphasize that point. I said, you know, this relatively poor country, but he had the tenacity, courage and conviction way around the world. And I happened to be in prison. He was engaging with Azizah and Nurul Izzah and our friends and said that he has a role. So, interesting enough, when I met Kofi Annan after I was released, he said, how close are you with President José Ramos-Horta? You see, I know him, not too close. I said, why? But he kept on calling me, harassing me, insisting that do something to secure Anwar’s release. You know, it’s an issue of conscience. That’s what we lack moral clarity, moral voice, voice of reason.

10. So, I say this to President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Rala Xanana Gusmão that you please remain consistent and continue that mission. Build a country, focus on economic fundamentals, strengthen education, training. And when our investors go, I always mention, yes, of course, you need, you invest because you need profit. Fair. I don’t question that. Never lose sight of the fact that there are responsibilities that come with that. We are not ex-colonial masters that come and exploit our countries and the resources. We go good commercial deal, profit, but there must be transfer technology training of the young and giving back through all possible schemes to the people.

11. There was an instruction to PETRONAS, even before PETRONAS could expand their activities, provide scholarship for students from Timor-Leste to study at Petronas University. And here Vincent, Jeffrey Cheah and all these big tycoons here. It has enormous potential.

12. Once they are now as a full member of ASEAN, there will be series of conferences and attendance. And I have told a number of my colleagues with ASEAN, I express, “what you have not been to Timor-Leste?” Although I’ve just been there two months back (joking tone). So, I was surprised to see that you must have in your agenda. I told Bongbong Marcos, you assume the leadership. You must be seen to be in Timor-Leste because you have to cover all ASEAN countries, the eleven.

13. I mentioned to some other friends. Of course I wouldn’t mention here. The delegation with business delegation with business proposal. And I mentioned to the President and the Prime Minister, make sure that you have clarity in the policies. Make sure you have proper incentives. Make sure that you execute speedily and avoid this rotten tradition of corruption by political leaders or by the public service. That’s what we mean by moral voice.

14. Get them to invest, make sure it’s clear and understand that nobody would want to invest without an assurance of profit. Be effective, execute speedily, have efficient civil service. And I told Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, go to Timor-Leste and invest there. And you will put some pointers points. Similarly, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, don’t talk about or don’t think about projects and contracts here. I will not approve any projects if you do not show that you invest in Malaysia and invest in Timor-Leste. For both, thank you.

15. President José Ramos-Horta, you see, I’m quite excited. I’m talking from a friend. I want you to succeed because I want friends who have that moral clarity, moral voice. And you have an advantage as you are ASEAN and you have also this Portuguese speaking thing, that’s why President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was excited with Timor-Leste.

16. And people criticize just because they see this blanket view. Malaysia today is not because of me. Because my team, thousands and thousands of volunteers and staff have dedicated their life worked very hard to ensure that the entire conference series of conferences are successful. Give credit to them. The whole world is looking, the whole world looks at Malaysia in a positive light. Yet you have this some, you know.

17. We can’t stop some ridiculous voices selling to America. Why must you invite Trump? I invited Trump and I used the equation to be in the beast. We were all in the beast. I don’t know what it means. For 35 or 40 minutes there was slow right from KLIA to the hotel, I make full use talk about tariffs. He asked about South China Sea and continue to urge him continue that just amicable resolution through a comprehensive deal, comprehensive solution on the issue of Gaza and Palestine, including the West Bank. I mean, we do that.

18. I do that in confidence. I repeated that during the ASEAN-US Meeting and the Bilateral Meeting Malaysia- United States. That’s the best we can do. But of course, we have to do with wisdom, with diplomacy, that you must regain his trust prepared to listen. And to me, I said, I’ve done, I’ve tried my best. I’ve tried my best to represent the country, this country, to protect the interests of our people, to attract investment for Malaysia. And I’ve done my best to champion the cause of Gaza.

19. May Allah help us. Thank you very much.

TEKS VERBATIM

SIDANG MEDIA

SIDANG KEMUNCAK ASEAN KE-47

OLEH

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PERDANA MENTERI

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh dan Salam Sejahtera.

Alhamdulillah, kita dapat selesai dan jayakan sidang penuh kemuncak ketua-ketua negara ASEAN. Dua tiga hari ini, puluhan mesyuarat dan perjumpaan dari pagi sampai malam.

Kita dapat pertemukan, bawa ke sini tokoh-tokoh besar negara-negara luar dari seluruh benua Presiden Donald Trump (Amerika Syarikat), Premier Li Qiang (China), kemudian Brazil mewakili Latin America, Afrika Selatan mewakili Afrika, dan Eropah.

Jadi, Alhamdulillah. Tapi saya gunakan kesempatan tadi untuk ucapkan terima kasih dan penghargaan.

Berapa orang bekerja? Puluhan ribu. Seperti yang saya katakan, dari lapangan terbang sampai ke pasukan keselamatan, imigresen, kastam, semuanya. Dan tentunya yang besarnya, Kementerian Luar Negeri (KLN), Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI), yang tentunya Ketua Setiausaha Negara serta seluruh jentera kerajaan.

Jadi, bila bab itu, memang saya terharu sedikit. Politik satu bab, tetapi ini menunjukkan bagaimana rakyat keseluruhannya kerja bertungkus-lumus. Pagi, petang, malam, tak kira waktu. Sepertimana kata saya sebut tadi, servis kerana cinta kepada negara Malaysia. Baik.

Jadi, ini menunjukkan Malaysia ini mempertahankan sikap yang sederhana dan centrality, maknanya dia boleh berhubung dan berkawan dengan semua.

Ada orang kata “Oh, mengapa kita memihak kepada negara China?” Ya, tapi kita jemput dan baik dengan Amerika Syarikat. “Mengapa terlalu sambut Amerika Syarikat?” Tapi kita baik dengan Brazil dan Afrika Selatan yang tidak disenangi oleh sesetengah negara Barat.

“Mengapa kita dengan EU, Eropah?” Kerana perdagangan, pelaburan negara-negara itu penting. Jadi bagi saya, keputusan yang kita buat itu keputusan yang menjaga imej negara, menjaga kepentingan negara, ekonominya, pelaburannya, dan yang lebih penting memanfaat kepada rakyatnya.

Bila kita baik dengan negara, mereka berdagang, datang ke sini sebagai pelancong, sebagai pedagang, sebagai pelabur memanfaat.

Jadi, itu sebabnya mengapa kita teruskan dengan sidang-sidang ini. Dan yang lain itu termasuk, umpamanya wakil daripada International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bank Dunia, Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), East Asia Business Council (EABC) dan beberapa badan-badan penyelidikan dunia yang terkenal.

Suatu perkembangan yang sangat menarik ialahkemasukan Timor-Leste sebagai anggota ke-11 ASEAN, yang sangat sentimental dan emosional bagi mereka kerana Timor-Leste ini sebahagian daripada Indonesia. Dulunya mereka di bawah penjajah Portugal, kemudian bila merdeka, bersama dengan Indonesia. Kemudian ada beberapa masalah dalaman, mereka keluar dan merdeka sejak 1999.

Sejak 1999, mereka bergelut nak menjadi sebahagian daripada ASEAN. Apakah mereka sudah sebahagian? Ya. Daripada asal ASEAN ditubuhkan, mereka itu sebahagian daripada ASEAN. Tapi bila dia keluar daripada negara sendiri, dia terpaksa gunakan proses semula terutama sebagai negara itu relatif miskin.

Saya sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN, saya tak kira sama ada kedudukan negara miskin. Kita berkawan bukan kerana negara itu kaya, kita berkawan kerana menghormati negara dan maruah rakyatnya.

Sama seperti kita dalam persahabatan kita, ada keluarga kita miskin, ada keluarga kita agak senang, takkan kita pilih yang kaya sahaja. Begitu juga dalam hubungan antara negara.

Sebab itu, rakan-rakan kita terutama di Kementerian Luar Negeri, bertungkus-lumus sepanjang tahun ini cari jalan dan helah bagaimana dapat keanggotaan penuh Timor-Leste dalam ASEAN dan Alhamdulillah, tempat sejarah kerana dengan kemasukan mereka.

Ada yang bertanya penyelesaian Myanmar. Myanmar kita tidak berganjak daripada keputusan kita tentang Konsensus Lima Perkara. Ada syarat. Kemudian kita bincang, kita akui, kerana saya bertemu dengan Min Aung Hlaing, masa itu Senior General dan Perdana Menteri, dua kali di Bangkok dan di Beijing.

Kemudian Menteri Luar dengan beberapa rakan sejawat bertemu dengan pemimpin-pemimpin Myanmar di Myanmar. Ini menunjukkan kesediaan kita mengadakan hubungan baik tetapi tidak berganjak dari syarat.

Apa faedahnya? Sejak setahun yang lalu, setelah kita campur tangan dan berunding dengan mereka, mereka hentikan serangan. Ada satu dua peristiwa, tetapi tidak seperti mana yang kita dengar dua tiga tahun yang lalu. Kampung dihancurkan, pembunuhan berlaku, pelarian ratusan ribu… tetapi ini tidak. Masih berlaku, masih kita kesalkan, tetapi jauh lebih kurang daripada apa yang pernah berlaku. Sebab itu, hubungan diteruskan tetapi belum lagi diiktiraf. Kita masih terikat dengan Konsensus Lima Perkara.

Baik. Kita kemudian ada apa yang disebut beberapa perjanjian persefahaman perniagaan dengan Amerika Syarikat, yang mengundang banyak juga teguran dan kritikan.

Sebahagiannya baca, sebahagiannya mengangguk tanpa memahami. Yang bincang dengan Presiden Amerika itu pasukan dia, tetapi yang bincang hati ke hati, empat mata itu saya dengan Presiden Trump.

Dan jangan lupa, kita boleh menjerit di sini, tapi orang mati di Gaza dibunuh, dibom. Caranya bagaimana? Maki Israel, sudah. Marah kat Amerika, sudah. Tapi ini kesempatan kita berjumpa sendiri. Sekarang ini, sekurang-kurangnya dengan campur tangan Amerika, dihentikan serangan dan dilarang penaklukan Tebing Barat. Apakah berhasil sepenuhnya? Tidak. Tetapi sekurang-kurangnya dihentikan serangan, pembunuhan. Orang dibunuh, kita asyik politik kita. Nak cari cheap political stunt. Itu saya tidak puas hati sama sekali. Siapa kata kita menyerah? Nak cari tegas seperti kita, siapa yang berani berucap depan Presiden Donald Trump? Tiap kali jumpa dia, Gaza, terima kasih atas penyelesaian awal, tapi bagi penyelesaian sepenuhnya. Bagi penghormatan kepada rakyat. Jangan ada lagi perkara ini berlaku. Pastikan tidak lagi kecurangan dilakukan. Itu kita lakukan kerana apa? Saya Perdana Menteri Malaysia!

Ini kadang-kadang orang, ya dia kesampingkan pandangan sedemikian. Saudara, dalam mobil yang disebut The Beast itu, huh! Berat betul kereta tu. Duduk dalam kereta dia, (macam) duduk dalam istana. Tapi saya tidak terpukau. Oh, aku hebat duduk sebelah, tak.

Saya kata, “terima kasih beri ruang, terima kasih kerana datang ke Malaysia, terima kasih kerana selesaikan. Tetapi, saya bagi pandangan-pandangan.”

Tapi inilah hubungan diplomasi ini, tidak semua nak kena jerit di luar. Yang penting, saudara ada mewakilkan kepada saya jadi jurucakap, dan saya bercakap untuk pertahankan kepentingan rakyat Palestin dan Gaza.

Kemudian dalam sidang, Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul bin Tengku Abdul Aziz ada yang bilateral Malaysia–United States. Kita ucap terima kasih dan kita minta biarlah komprehensif. Yang 20 point itu, tidak cukup komprehensif, kerana tak sebut tentang negara Palestin, tak sebut tentang Tebing Barat secara teliti. Kemudian sekarang dia sebut “Jangan serang! Jangan takluki Tebing Barat”. Kita sebut. Kemudian ASEAN–United States, depan semua ketua, kepala Negara ASEAN, Tuanku Sultan Brunei, Ketua-Ketua Presiden, Perdana Menteri semua, saya tegaskan lagi. Saya kata, “Terima kasih Tuan Presiden”, dia duduk sebelah saya. Nak tunjuk berani sangat, suruh yang bising dekat kampung Sabak Bernam kah manakah (nada berseloroh). Tak, bukanlah saya gurau… tapi tak payah sokong saya. Tetapi bila kenyataan ini kita lakukan, bagilah sokongan pada pendirian Malaysia.

Malaysia bernasib baik, Alhamdulillah, kita Pengerusi ASEAN, Trump sebelah saya. Saya kata, “Thank you Mr. President,” soal Gaza ini sekurang-kurangnya ada, tapi ingat, kita selalu sebut komprehensif. Komprehensif maknanya penyelesaian menyeluruh. Menyeluruh ini maknanya menghormati hak rakyat Palestin termasuk negara dia. Siapa yang sebut? Malaysia! Di depan siapa? Di depan Donald Trump! Nah, ini saya nak… jadi, ini yang dilakukan.

Baik, ada masalah perjanjian perdagangan yang dirundingkan oleh pasukan perdagangan kita, yang banyak dikepalai oleh Tengku Zafrul dan sebahagian dari segi kewangan mungkin Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah bin Tun Dato’ Seri Azizan, Menteri Kewangan II. Tapi kebanyakannya itu dikendali oleh MITI. Mereka mahu bicara soal rare earth, nadir bumi. Mereka mahu bicara soal semikonduktor, chips, jaga soal maritim. Ya, kita bersetuju. Apa yang ada, bagi. Tapi apakah itu akan menghalang kita dengan negara China? Tak ada. Apakah menghalang kita ada hubungan dengan negara lain? Tidak.

Jadi, sementara kita berunding, bukan menyerah. Kalau saya lihat, saya tengok sekarang ni, ya, Parti Pembangkang, tak apalah kerja dia bangkang, tapi dalam hal ini saudara, semua negara lakukan. Macam kata, “Oh, pasal apa jemput Donald Trump, patut jangan jemput. Dia ini dilaknat Allah, dan siapa yang menyokong dia itu sama ah dilaknat.” Ini apa benda politik? Inilah negara kita jadi bahan. Ada sesetengah tu orang ustaz, belajar agama. Tanyalah dulu, “Oh, Anwar pegang, bercium pipi isteri Marcos.” Betul dia pegang saya. Saya buat begini, dia ambil gambar. Dia nampak macam… tak adalah sentuh pun. Aduhai, aku pun… tak apalah. Tak ada sungguh. Tengok kalau ambil gambar belah kanan, ambil lagi… Ini kalau, bagaimana orang agama boleh begitu, tak tahu fakta, terus hukum munafik, ini maksiat. Tak boleh saudara macam tu.

Ini kita, Malaysia jadi tumpuan dunia. Seluruh dunia perhati Malaysia, bagaimana kita boleh handle Trump, esoknya dengan Li Qiang, hari ini sign dengan Trump, esok sign dengan Li Qiang.

Kemudian sepakat negara ASEAN bawa Brazil. Brazil itu perang, musuh betul dengan Donald Trump. Kita panggil dia. Selatan Afrika, Ramaphosa, disergah oleh Trump masa pertemuan, kita panggil dia.

Saya kena terang, masa itu dunia bagi perhatian ada dua, tiga ni memang dengki, hasad dengki dengan kita. Bukan soal saya. Ini yang kawan-kawan saya kerja lagi bertungkus-lumus untuk menjayakan ini.

Jadi saudara kena harap. Saya syukur. Saya anak Malaysia. Saya bangga kerana Malaysia harum namanya sekarang.

Sebab itu kita sign kemudian ya, ASEAN–China Free Trade Agreement 3.0 Upgrade. Yang pertama ASEAN dengan yang upgrade ini, pertama. Kalau kita takut dengan negara Amerika Syarikat, mana mungkin kita sign dengan China sehari selepas Presiden Trump pulang. Tak mungkin.

Namun ini saya kata kebijaksanaan diplomasi. Bukan saya, tapi dengan rakan-rakan semua. Baik, yang lain… ya, kita ikutilah yang lain. Baik, terima kasih banyak.

Soalan 1 – Astro AWANI

YAB Dato’ Seri, banyak perkara positif. Tahniah saya ucapkan tetapi masih saya nak menyentuh tentang ASEAN yang mana Dato’ Seri sebutkan progres itu secara gradual tetapi selepas 5 tahun kegagalan untuk melaksanakan Five-Point Consensus (5PC) secara keseluruhan. Jadi apakah benchmark untuk ASEAN next untuk melihat tentang penyelesaian isu Myanmar ini? Kita dah habis YAB Dato’ Seri, kita nak bagi pada Filipina pula.

Jawapan YAB PM:

Baru 5 tahun ya. Baru 5 tahun. Gaza, 70 tahun. Kita berupaya macam dalam doa kita lah. In urīdu illā al-iṣlāḥa mā istaṭaʿtu. Kita berusaha sedaya upaya. Bawa kebaikan dan perubahan. Sedaya upaya. Apa dia upaya kita yang pertama? Hentikan serangan. Sama ada kepada Buddhist di Karen atau Muslim Rakhine yang Rohingya. Dan bagi saya, walaupun tidak sepenuhnya, itu kejayaan sangat besar permulaannya.

Sekarang kita kena teruskan. Jadi bagi saya, betul dia agak rumit, dia sukar kerana dia melibatkan perundangan, dia melibatkan pengiktirafan hak warganegara, itu masih. Tapi bagi saya, Tapi yang saya beritahu kepada Senior General Perdana Menteri Min Aung Hlaing, kita tak boleh terima serangan, pembunuhan kampung rakyat yang tidak dosa.

Jadi ada permulaan yang baik, walaupun saya setuju dan saya mengaku, masih banyak yang harus dikerjakan. Baik. Terima kasih.

Soalan 2 – Nikkei

How do you look at the overall – what have you achieved and also not achieved throughout your chairmanship of ASEAN? And also, another part about what’s your comment about criticisms that ASEAN is still being toothless after all these years?

Jawapan YAB PM:

Well, firstly, I don’t think you should assess or evaluate based on my Chairmanship. You see, I inherit an organization, they have done remarkably well in some areas. We’re not starting this year. What is very critical to my mind in any regional body to secure peace and you know, now ASEAN is considered to be one of the most peaceful regions in the world.

Second, focusing the economic fundamentals and in terms of investment, trade and economic growth, it is one of the fastest growing economy in the world. That’s why the whole world is looking at us. That’s where the whole world represents the whole continent is here because it is peaceful. It has enormous potential to propel economic growth.

Now, have we achieved everything? No, certainly not. But if you can see, for example in terms of the focus on the power grid, that’s new. We achieved this year on connectivity, on refocusing from just geopolitical understanding in terms of diplomatic efforts to ensure there is peace to intra-ASEAN Trade Investments, which is now the focus. And then using ASEAN to expand our linkages and collaboration with other continents. European Union (EU), Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is not proceeding in a faster pace because of our position to push ahead on these FTAs with China, traditionally with the United States, but now with Latin America and Africa.

Why must we talk about globalization, we talk about multilateralism? Why must we ignore Africa and Latin America? People may choose to ignore. Some countries may not like Brazil or South Africa. Nothing to do with us. We consider them great friends. And it’s true both President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa are my friends. But since they are given that task and they believe strongly that they should engage and enhance this collaboration, including trade and investments.  So, I see that as something very positive. Although as I’ve said this has to continue is some immediate return, some medium term, some long term.

Soalan 3 – The Economist

I just wanted to ask you about the East Asia Summit yesterday. I understand that there will be no joint statement from the East Asia Summit because there could be no consensus reached and that the United States blocked that joint statement.

I just wondered if you could talk to us a little bit about Malaysia’s efforts to try and bridge the differences between Russia, the United States, and China, and why that joint statement didn’t come out. Thank you.

Jawapan YAB PM:

Notwithstanding what you have said, this is one forum where Russia was present, Myanmar was present, the United States, China, and all the relevant stakeholders.

You don’t have a regional meeting with their presence. Some meetings Myanmar comes in, European gets out. Some meetings, if Russia comes in, the others will not participate.

But in the ASEAN-sponsored East Asia Summit, at least there’s preparedness to engage and listen. They may agree, they may disagree but that’s a position taken. And the consensus within ASEAN is to ensure that there’s engagement. We should not stop engaging.

And then secondly, peace is to us critical. So if you see there are issues, for example, there was no clarity in terms of the South China Sea for example, the issue — I disagree, because we all agree, ASEAN countries say – based on the Code of Conduct.

Premier Li Qiang responded to say, yes, we should facilitate and accelerate the process and agreement on the Code of Conduct. ASEAN and all the relevant parties all agreed that this region should not be an area of contestation of superpowers.

Their presence is accepted. We work with some maritime arrangements with the Americans, and there are traditional military exercises with Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore. We have increased activity with maritime collaboration with China. That’s how it should work, to my mind.

But we Malaysia, at least our maritime borders will never allow the presence of any foreign military force. They will be deemed to be provocative against the rest, because it is inconsistent with our policy of centrality of engaging with all. Do I answer your question? It’s clear? Thank you.

Soalan 4 – CNA

I wonder if you can share with us what you and President Trump talked about during your ride from the tarmac to KLCC.

And did he promise us anything on semiconductors, the tariffs, or sectoral tariffs — anything on that?

Jawapan YAB PM:

Well, I would say that well, I did, on a lighter note, mention to him because when he invited me, I said, you know, because the security and protocol guys didn’t seem to look happy.

Then he said, “You don’t get Prime Minister Anwar in?”

So I went in, and then of course I needed to know about the car so that was a few minutes. But of course, I made full use of the opportunity to engage. And to President Trump’s credit, he is also a good listener. In this private engagement, he gave some views, I politely disagreed on some issues.

He wanted to know, of course, about relations with our neighbours, particularly with China, and why I invited Brazil and South Africa, and I engaged.

On the tariffs, of course I said 19% is still high for us. But then he has now imposed zero tariff on our major facilities, including our major export, semiconductors for now. I, of course, thanked him for that.

Then I spent some time discussing Gaza. He knew about, you know, even my meeting with past Hamas leaders, and I explained to him why I was in Doha. I know one or two of them. I decided to meet them and strongly urged them to support the peace initiative by the Arab neighbours, OIC. That was it. Subsequently, one of them was killed in this Israeli attack in Iran. And I said, whilst I do support, and I think no one can dispute the fact that he was quite determined to ensure that peace in Gaza, stop continued killings.

But I said, you know, if you talk about lasting peace, a durable peace, then must be comprehensive. But of course, he answered that this is the first phase.

“We are working on it,” he said. “Do I know Steve Witkoff?” I said, I met him. Then he (said), “We are taking it very seriously. He must not fail.” So I think I was in a fortunate position because firstly, he allowed me to have that four eyes with him, in private, in confidence.

And I must confess that he listened very attentively to our views and some, you know, contrary to some of his earlier assertions. So, well, people expect me to work. What do you expect me to do?

I think I did my best to present the voice of conscience, what Malaysians want us to do. Now, if there’s no opportunity, had he not been here, there would not be an opportunity. But at least there was a voice that he had to listen.

And we repeated that, of course in the formal session, the bilateral between Malaysia and the United States with President Donald Trump. And within ASEAN, naturally, I’ve got to be more guarded, right? I mean, these are diplomatic encounters like that.

I wouldn’t be as you know, I did spend… I mean, take it from me, sir, that I did my best to appeal to him to say that, “Look, the peace initiative must be comprehensive, must be durable, must be fair ultimately.”

And of course, there are many things he said in private which to me. enlightening and of course, I was happy to hear that. But then these are, private conversations between leaders, and you have to respect that.

(If) You start leaking phone calls like we did in the past, nobody want to talk to you, or you (were) leaking private conversations, it will not be done. So, I’m just informing things that I think it is something permissible.

Terima kasih banyak. Wassalamualaikum.

VERBATIM TEXT

OPENING REMARKS BY

THE HONOURABLE DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

AT THE

15TH ASEAN – UNITED NATIONS (UN) SUMMIT

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

1. Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations. Welcome to the 15th ASEAN – United Nations Summit.

2. But before that, can I express how glad we are? Not only due to your presence, but your voice of conscience, your courage and being very consistent and coherent in defending the entire spirit of multilateral arrangements and defending freedom and respecting rights of countries of minorities.

3. And I think, certainly, I think we must say that it’s a challenge, but we admire your tenacity and your courage, including some very, what I said earlier about intractable cases like Gaza, the atrocities committed and you have been, you know, very consistent, the voice of reason and the voice of conscience. So, thank you very much.

4. And I would begin, of course, by inviting you, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, to deliver your opening remarks.

TEKS UCAPAN

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PERDANA MENTERI

SEMPENA

PERASMIAN PERSIDANGAN ASEAN: PERKHIDMATAN AWAM BERSEDIA MENGHADAPI MASA HADAPAN

(ASEAN CONFERENCE ON FUTURE-READY PUBLIC SERVICE)

7 OKTOBER 2025 (SELASA) | 12.00 TENGAH HARI

SUNWAY RESORT HOTEL

SELANGOR

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh dan salam sejahtera.

His Excellency Tan Sri Shamsul Azri bin Abu Bakar,

Chief Secretary to the Goverment of Malaysia;

His Excellency Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan bin Haji Abdul

Aziz,

Director-General Public Service Department of Malaysia;

Heads of Civil Service from ASEAN Member States and Timor Leste;

Dan tetamu yang saya muliakan dan saudara-saudari.

1. Saya alu-alukan langkah positif, ikhtiar yang dibuat oleh khususnya KPPA dan pentadbiran awam negara kita untuk bukan sekadar mengumpul kekuatan dalam ASEAN tetapi kesediaan untuk merenung dan mencari kaedah-kaedah baru untuk mempertingkat mutu khidmat kita.

2. Dalam penjawat awam ini tentu ada dua tarikan yang menyebabkan ada sedikit pertembungan, satu ialah kekuatan pentadbiran awam atau yang disebut birokrasi itu adalah terikat dengan peraturan dan juga kaedah lama yang harus dipatuhi, yang menyebabkan dia merupakan sesuatu kekuatan institusi.

3. Dalam masa yang sama, dia juga harus merupakan satu agensi yang cepat menangkap isu semasa dan ketuntutan perubahan. Dan dengan apa yang diungkapkan oleh Tan Sri KSN sebagai post normal times, tentunya tuntutan itu merupakan satu kewajipan atau kemestian yang mesti dilakukan dengan segera.

4. Jadi, kekuatan dan keupayaan saudara-saudara ialah mempertemukan kedua-duanya. Nama birokrasi dan penjawat awam itu menuntut kaedah dan peraturan dan prosedur dipatuhi, dan ini tentunya terikat dengan kaedah lama. Tetapi, pentadbiran awam dan birokrasi juga menuntut keupayaan kita segera menangkap keperluan melakukan perubahan secara yang agak lebih agresif. Itulah sebab saudara-saudara terkumpul di sini. Jangan tanya saya, saya tidak ada jawapan (nada berseloroh). Jawapannya kepada KSN, KPPA dan rakan-rakan sekalian.

5. So Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is of course a privilege to be among those whose daily work sustains the missionary of our nation. Public service is seldom glamorous, yet it is the unassuming architecture of civilization. As you say, leaders, political leaders come and go, but the institution remains strong embedded, so that the system and governance must continue and so, the challenge or the question before us is how to make that architecture future ready, strong enough to withstand shocks and flexible enough to serve citizens whose expectations are not only constantly changing, but demanding.

6. In my introduction I alluded to the fact that the name bureaucracy by nature means is an established institution with norms and procedures, rules to be followed. At the same time, we have new challenges in these post normal times, where changes are not only abrupt, unprecedented at an unprecedented pace, and must be accelerated to achieve results. And the more so this decade, we have shifting currents, trade frictions, technological upheavals, climate emergency and the growing demand by our society for openness.

7. Everyone has the right to expose, to demand explanation, and we become forcibly more accountable but I would say that Alhamdulillah ASEAN still remains one of the world’s most stable region. But as you know, stability alone will not prepare us for the storms ahead. We have now a region of 660 million people and very productive. I mean productive in the sense that we will have more people soon. So we must act as a network of capable, trusted institutions.

8. The next phase of ASEAN cooperation will depend on how we modernize the state itself and the heart of governance lies morality. Without moral purpose, public servant loses direction, our duty is to empower citizens and ensure that progress reaches every layer of society. A public service that fails to hear the weak or the marginalize forfeits legitimacy. Justice must be guided and must guide our decisions. Progress stripped of compassion becomes dangerous. Development without justice becomes hollow. Sustainability begins with stewardship of the environment, of public finances and of the institutions that hold us together.

9. What we build today should widen the choices of those who come after us. So, in Malaysia, in reference to the MADANI framework, we have tried partly to turn these principles into systems. Digital identity is improving and improving secure access to services. But even then, there was a very pertinent challenge a month ago about the issue of productivity paradox. And I’m pleased that the Chief Secretary has undertaken this as a major challenge to get all the inputs necessary, because we have to respond to this central issue in terms of productivity, in terms of reducing inequality, ensuring that the marginalized and the poor, urban poor and marginalized, are given due regard and consideration.

10. And then, of course, the Energy Transition Roadmap is creating new skills and jobs while keeping our fiscal footing sound. The next step is of course, to connect these reforms to make government work as one and not many. And this is, of course, a major challenge. The whole setup of the civil service or public service structure is, of course, compartmentalization. And it is necessary to specialize, to focus. But the new norms, digitalization, energy, dictates a new phenomenon — the need to integrate effectively. And that’s why I think the understanding of the senior officers is critical, to be able to work not in silos but as an integrated force.

11. But more important, to my mind, is the issue of leadership, both political and the public service. Because leadership today demands moral clarity and the courage to reform. A future-ready civil service needs leaders who think beyond electoral cycles, act transparently, and welcome scrutiny. All these are popular and interesting pious platitudes, but you have to sit in Parliament for a debate. I tell you, it’s quite challenging.

12. So, this morning, I must apologize. I’m a bit late this afternoon because there are two programmes imposed upon me which were not in the initial plan. Firstly, in the morning, summoned by the Malay Sultans to give them an update on ASEAN and incoming President Donald Trump’s visit and the issue of Flotilla and then some other related national issues, just to brief them. And then, I had to rush to the airport to send off my colleague, the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

13. So, I do apologize. But it happens to coincide with the Prime Minister’s Question Time at 10 o’clock in Parliament. So, I wasn’t sure whether I was quite relieved (in joking tone), although I cannot escape because the same question will be raised the following week. But I think it helps in terms of transparency, accountability and allowing members of Parliament, particularly the opposition, to raise issues of concern.

14. Now, back to issue of technology. Technology again, as I mentioned about productivity paradox because technology is reshaping governance from data analytics to artificial intelligence because it’s purpose is to make life simpler and service more humane. But, if you read the issue of productivity paradox, it does not necessarily result that way. Sometimes becomes more complex. You don’t educate the masses and you insist that they follow certain digital rules. So, it still remains a challenge.

15. Therefore, the next frontier is interoperability. Citizens should share their details once and government should use them responsibly across agencies. Each interaction must leave an audit trail that earns, not demands public trust. Digital government should lighten the citizens’ day, never add to the burden.

16. The finest systems mean little without capable ethical people. Public service must become a learning institution, reskilling continuously and holding itself to clear standards of integrity. Independent capability reviews show how a civil service can renew itself through honest self-assessment rather than crisis. An aging workforce should be valued for its experience, mentoring new talent while adapting to new tools and ways of working. I’ve challenged, for example, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because the traditional notion of how we look at diplomacy has shifted to a focus on trade and investments. So these shifts would require the civil service to also retrain and expose new talents, new officers to new dictates and new demands.

17. So, I must commend again, for example, the Foreign Ministry for grasping this and taking immediate action to ensure that our young diplomats refocus. Not necessarily refocus, but then extend the focus beyond just diplomacy to the issues affecting trade, investment or the economy.

18. Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, across ASEAN, our administration are reforming with the same purpose. Our shared task is deepen trust, interoperability and capability so that citizens everywhere in our region experience government that is connected, secure and humane. None of us can face climate shocks, cyber risks or health crisis alone. Our resilience will depend on how well our systems learn from each other.

19. Trust, interoperability and capability form new horizons of public service. They require discipline, clear standards, open yet protected data and cooperation that crosses borders and bureaucracies alike. So let us leave this conference with renewed commitment to reform, boldly cooperate deeply and serve with integrity. If we do so, Insya-Allah, history will remember us as architects of a just, inclusive and sustainable ASEAN.

Terima kasih. Wassalamualaikum.