Speeches, Statements & International Documents

 

ADDRESS BY

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

AT

THE 58TH ASEAN DAY CELEBRATION

8 th AUGUST 2025 (FRIDAY) | 10:30AM | CYBERJAYA 

 

Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh dan Salam Sejahtera.

Saudara Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan;

Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan dan seluruh jentera Kementerian Luar yang telah memainkan peranan yang membanggakan membantu bukan sahaja Malaysia, tetapi juga ASEAN dalam beberapa rangka, saya ucap terima kasih.

Saudara Tiong, Menteri Pelancongan;

Tan Sri Speaker Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul;

Tan Sri KSN;

dan semua yang hadir.

Tuan-tuan yang terutama.

1. Tentulah satu kebanggaan dan penghargaan untuk kita bersama dalam ASEAN. Bukan saja merayakan sambutan 58 tahun, tetapi merasa syukur dan juga mencatat kemajuan demi kemajuan.  

2. Kalau saya boleh mulakan dengan menggunakan kesempatan ini menghargai wawasan, sumbangan, pemimpin-pemimpin yang disebut tadi dalam ucapan Menteri Luar bahawa hanya pimpinan yang punyai pendirian, yang melihat jauh ke depan, yang tidak hanya terikat dengan permasalahan dalaman dan domestik, tapi memikirkan kepentingan jiran, rantau dan dunia, yang boleh menggagaskan satu idea dalam keadaan negara-negara baru mencapai kemerdekaan dan bergelut dengan pelbagai masalah dalam negara, dan pertembungan yang sengit dalam apa disebutkan pada masa itu di antara dua kuasa besar.

3. Jadi, oleh itu kita turut merayakan dan hari ini mencatat sesuatu kejayaan kerana sumbangan, pemikiran dan wawasan pejuang-pejuang, tokoh-tokoh dan pendiri negara-negara dan juga ASEAN. Tetapi cabaran masih berterusan, dan kita tentunya akan dianggap relevan sekiranya kita hadapi dengan berani dan dengan komitmen.

4. For once in every decade, the stewardship of this community of nations is passed to us. It is a trust laden with responsibility and no small measure of challenges.

5. Each time the gavel comes to us, so does the expectation that Malaysia, with the support mandate given by our Asian colleagues, will help to move the needle that our year will be one of imagination and progress. This is a challenge we have embraced time and again.

6. We have now entered the final stretch of our chairmanship. In just over four months, we will pass the mantle of responsibility to my friend Mr. Bongbong Marcos of the Philippines. Yet, much remains to be done in this closing phase, particularly in the lead up to the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits in October.

7. We now stand at the threshold of the culmination point. What we do in the months ahead will decide how history judges us, our year at the helm. For in the final week of October, our aim is as audacious as it is consequential to deliver ASEAN's largest and most high-profile gathering of world leaders to date. It will be a veritable assembly of the world's principal centres of power and influence.

8. We look forward to welcoming the heads of governments of ASEAN and our dialogue partners, including United States Federal President Donald Trump and, I believe, President Xi Jinping of China. In addition, we have received positive indications of attendance from Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently holds the BRICS and the G20 presidencies respectively.

9. But securing their presence is only the first step. The greater test is to ensure that they leave Malaysia and ASEAN feeling their time was well spent. We must ensure that their visit yields results of lasting value. The eyes of the world will be upon us. We must, therefore, rise to the occasion.

Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

10. Anniversaries are moments to take stock, to reassess, to reflect on how far we have come and the journey still ahead. And I dare say, without the least overstatement, that the founders of ASEAN will look to our progress with pride. But we would be mistaken to think that we have outgrown the motivation and concern of those who signed the Bangkok Declaration in 1967, Adam Malik, Tun Abdul Razak, S. Rajaratnam, Narciso Ramos, and Thanat Khoman, the founding fathers of ASEAN. They understood this that the region’s first task was to ensure that nations of Southeast Asia could live together in amity and cooperation. 

11. They also recognized that Southeast Asia must take primary responsibility for its own peace, its own security and its own prosperity that conviction still beats at the heart of ASEAN. It was the foundation of our beginning in 1967 and it remains the measure of our relevance today. Peace between nations, peace within them these are the foundations of our regional community.

12. We must not take them for granted, nor can we set aside our responsibility to forge regional solutions to regional problems. Now, the recent escalation along the Cambodian Thai border reminds us how swiftly tensions can rise when left unresolved. As Chair, Malaysia was constructive to facilitate talks between the two countries. I would take note to recognize the support mandate of my friends, Tuanku Sultan Brunei, Presidents, Prime Ministers in ASEAN who had continuously given the full support and endorsement and this is a remarkable feat. I’m able to do that with Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and the colleagues because of the solidarity, commitment, trust, friendship, and brotherhood of all ASEAN leaders. Thank you again.

13. Yes, we have brokered the ceasefire and we had the United States of America with President Donald Trump and China supporting this endeavour and recognizing the role of the Chair and ASEAN generally. And again, I think this is unprecedented a remarkable feat and of course this shows the strength, commitment, and resolve of ASEAN leaders.

14. But I must also take this opportunity to thank both leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, their Cabinets, the Chiefs of the Armed Forces. Here coordinated by our Chief of Armed Forces who have played a pivotal role. So, it is multi-layered it is not just the Prime Minister or Foreign Minister. The army and the relationship trust among both our armed forces and ASEAN leaders is remarkable and it is because of that level of trust and confidence we’re able to continue not only to secure an understanding and I was told that in the history of ceasefires in the world, in the past many decades if not centuries, this was probably the first ceasefire that worked fast and effectively due to the support of everyone.

15. Yesterday, we resolved the final agreement between both the Defence Ministers and Defence Ministries, after three to four days of deliberations by the representatives dealing with some very detailed technical questions and I must again express my profound gratitude and appreciation for their support.

16. The United States and China have given their commitment to support logistics in this endeavour but leave it entirely to the bilateral understanding between Thailand and Cambodia moderated by Malaysia and when necessary, all ASEAN leaders have given commitment when and if necessary, they will give their support and do whatever is necessary to ensure we secure a lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand.

17. I am therefore extremely grateful to all the players and factors. The Foreign Ministry playing this role together with the Chief of the Armed Forces and the known commitment. Wvery time I speak to the Prime Minister of Thailand or the Prime Minister of Cambodia, I always tell them, “Look, I have this mandate and the support of all my ASEAN colleagues.” Therefore, that gives an added strength to what I have to say and they have to naturally consider it very seriously and that’s why I think the credit goes to ASEAN as a body, as an association and I think if this is a good beginning, it augurs well for the future of ASEAN in terms of attaining the geopolitical strategy.

18. Now, our next challenge of course Myanmar, we have made some progress at least in terms of securing somewhat a ceasefire and the Foreign Minister together with the Foreign Ministers of Thailand and Indonesia as I understand will be visiting Myanmar soon to impress upon them, to stay on course, start with an end of violence and cessation of hostilities and pursue with dialogue within among the stakeholders and players within Myanmar and we in ASEAN would of course do whatever necessary to facilitate that process.

19. The only point I want to raise because ASEAN ambassadors and leaders are here is to move beyond securing peace and maintaining centrality in terms of geopolitical understanding. That’s why we have moved to ensure that ASEAN would be durable and strong with enhanced economic relations through intra-ASEAN trade and investments, regional efforts in terms of energy grid and connectivity, which happens to be the thrust of our economic agenda.

20. I believe much more needs to be done one of the key issues to be deliberated in October would be the economy, inter-ASEAN trade, cross-border investments, energy grid, and connectivity.

21. So, let me again thank you Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and your team, and the Tan Sri Zaini and entire staff in Ministry of Defence for their effort in ensuring a great future success and peace between Thailand and Cambodia. And through the ambassadors please convey my respects and satisfaction that from the meeting between Prime Ministers, and yesterday’s meeting between the two Defence Ministers, we have achieved what seemed to be unachievable or problems that were considered unsurmountable in the past but with that trust and readiness to work within the ASEAN framework, we did succeed.

Terima kasih.

Assalamualaikum.

 

1. I am pleased to be here today as we mark the 58th anniversary of ASEAN. This occasion carries particular resonance as it coincides with our ASEAN chairmanship.

2. For once every decade, the stewardship of this community of nations is passed to us. It is a trust laden with responsibility and no small measure of challenges. Each time the gavel comes to us, so does the expectation that Malaysia will help move the needle – that our year will be one of imagination and progress. This is a challenge we have embraced time and again.

3. We have now entered the final stretch of our chairmanship. In just over four months, we will pass the mantle of responsibility to the Philippines. Yet much remains to be done in this closing phase, particularly in the lead‑up to the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in October.

4. We now stand at the threshold of the culmination point: what we do in the months ahead will decide how history judges our year at the helm. For in the final week of October, our aim is as audacious as it is consequential: to deliver ASEAN’s largest and most high‑profile gathering of world leaders to date. It will be a veritable assembly of the world’s principal centres of power and influence.

5. We look forward to welcoming the heads of government of ASEAN and our Dialogue Partners, including US President Donald Trump. In addition, we have received positive indications of attendance from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently hold the BRICS and the G20 presidencies, respectively.

6. But securing their presence is only the first step. The greater test is to ensure that they leave Malaysia feeling their time was well spent. We must ensure their visit yields results of lasting value.

7. The eyes of the world will be upon us. We must rise to the occasion.

Ladies and gentlemen,

8. Anniversaries are moments to take stock: to reflect on how far we have come and the journey still ahead. And I dare say, without the least overstatement, that the founders of ASEAN would look upon our progress with pride.

9. But we would be mistaken to think we have outgrown the motivations and concerns of those who signed the 1967 Bangkok Declaration. Adam Malik, Tun Razak, Narciso Ramos, S. Rajaratnam, and Thanat Khoman – the founding fathers of ASEAN – understood this: that the region’s first task was to ensure the nations of Southeast Asia could live together in amity and cooperation. They also recognised that Southeast Asia must take primary responsibility for its own peace, its own security, and its own prosperity.

10. That conviction still beats at the heart of ASEAN. It was the foundation of our beginning in 1967, and it remains the measure of our relevance today.

11. Peace between nations, and peace within them – these are the foundations of our regional community. We must never take them for granted. Nor can we set aside our responsibility to forge regional solutions to regional problems.

12. The recent escalation along the Cambodian-Thai border reminds us how swiftly tensions can rise when left unresolved. As Chair, Malaysia has worked constructively to facilitate talks between the two countries. We helped broker a ceasefire – one that has held, thanks to the courage of their leaders to choose peace over provocation.

13. Our efforts on Myanmar have been steady and unyielding. The path to resolution is difficult, but we do not flinch in the face of a great challenge. Malaysia continues to engage the key parties. We persist in calling for the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus and for concrete steps toward an inclusive political future. These are not easy tasks. But  they go to the very heart of why ASEAN was founded: to uphold the stability, the unity, and the progress of Southeast Asia.

Ladies and gentlemen,

14. Peace is a critical foundation. But for it to endure, it must be matched by tangible economic gains that are felt not only in boardrooms but in the daily lives of our people.

15. That is why we are advancing a new phase of regional economic cooperation. The Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the upgrade to our various trade agreements mark important steps forward. In October, we will build on that momentum by deepening the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and convening the Fifth RCEP Leaders’ Meeting.

16. Together, these steps show that we are serious about keeping our region open and connected. At a time when some countries are turning inward, ASEAN must continue to stand for trade and cooperation. Because when we do, businesses can grow, goods move more freely, and people have more opportunities to build a better life – whether they run a small online shop, work in a port or a factory, or are just starting their careers. That is the real promise of regional cooperation.

17. Furthermore, the ASEAN Power Grid will supercharge the region’s transition to a more sustainable and integrated power market. In time, this means cleaner electricity and more affordable power flowing across our borders – from where it is produced most efficiently to where it is needed most.

18. At the heart of it all is our region’s greatest asset: its people. With a median age under 40, ASEAN is home to one of the youngest populations in the world. Our task is to equip them with the skills, tools and confidence to shape the region they will inherit. That means narrowing development gaps and building communities that are more inclusive, more connected, and more prepared for the future.

19. Being inclusive also means welcoming Timor‑Leste with the same open hand that has brought us this far. We look forward to their accession in October. Their inclusion will make ASEAN complete by embracing the whole of geographical Southeast Asia.

Ladies and gentlemen,

20. Before I conclude, let me express my heartfelt gratitude to all who have made our chairmanship a success thus far. To the dedicated officials in Wisma Putra, MITI, MOTAC and other key ministries who have worked so tirelessly – you have the nation’s deepest gratitude.

21. We have heard kind words from fellow ASEAN leaders. They have praised Malaysia’s excellent organisation and the energy we have brought to the chair. That encouragement means a great deal to all of us involved, and I hope to all Malaysians as well.

22. A special word of thanks must go to the people of Kuala Lumpur. As always, you have been gracious hosts. I know it has not been easy. Summit meetings often mean roadblocks, detours, traffic jams, and the occasional test of everyone’s temper. But your forbearance has made it all possible.

23. We ask for your patience once more this October. It will be the final major act of our chairmanship, and the most visible. If we are to succeed, we will need your support. 

24. To all who have carried this effort – from the officials and agencies who led the work, to the security, media, and support teams who kept it running – you have my profound gratitude. Your dedication has been the backbone of our chairmanship. None of this would have been possible without you.

25. We are now in the home stretch. Let’s finish strong.

Happy ASEAN Day.

Thank you. Terima kasih