January 20, 2026
SERDANG – Malaysia’s successful Asean Chairmanship 2025 must spur stronger performance at home, particularly in boosting the economy and improving people’s welfare, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said international recognition would be meaningless without economic direction, stronger education outcomes and wider adoption of new technologies such as AI and digital infrastructure.
“The success of our chairing of Asean last year should not make us complacent. Instead, it should teach us to work harder and be more responsible,” he said at the Asean-Malaysia 2025 Chairmanship Appreciation Ceremony held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) here yesterday.
Anwar thanked civil servants, volunteers, private sector players and GLCs for ensuring the smooth organisation of last year’s Asean meetings and summits, noting that many – from security and immigration officers to hotel workers and cultural performers – worked late into the night to warmly receive visiting leaders and delegations.
He said the experience highlighted the importance of unity and cooperation across ministries, states and communities.
He warned that Malaysia would not earn lasting international respect if it remained divided by party, race or region.
“Leadership must be responsible, governance must be clean and policies must be clear,” he said, adding that corruption and abuse of power must be firmly addressed to sustain public trust and investor confidence.
Anwar emphasised that beyond appearances, foreign visitors should see how Malaysia manages its economy, fosters unity, adopts new technologies and attracts international investment.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia concluded its Asean Chairmanship on a high note despite global geopolitical uncertainties.
He said Malaysia hosted more than 300 meetings at various levels, including the 46th and 47th Asean Summits as well as Asean-GCC and Asean-GCC-China summits, producing over 90 outcome documents.
He added that Malaysia was also entrusted as the permanent steward of the Asean Community Vision 2045 for the next 20 years, facilitated Timor-Leste’s entry as Asean’s 11th member and helped ease border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
Also present were Anwar’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Cabinet ministers, senior civil servants and heads of government agencies.