Malaysia is gearing up to host the biggest diplomatic event of the year at the upcoming 47th Asean Summit, which will see a star-studded cast led by US President Donald Trump.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering attending, while Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to join the likes of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the summit, which officially begins on Oct 26 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Even Fifa president Gianni Infantino is expected to make an appearance in Kuala Lumpur as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) awaits its appeal against the world body’s allegations of ‘doctored documentation’ involving seven footballers.
Another highlight of the summit will be the announcement of Timor Leste as Asean’s latest member.
While the leaders’ arrival in Malaysia reflects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s diplomatic pull, an academician said that for Asean to prosper, it must look inward.
“If Asean plays its cards right, it can become even more relevant. It is home to nearly 700 million people – a huge and often underestimated market,” said Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk of the Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“Asean needs to realise its potential. It must look inward and explore how member countries can do more for each other. We have the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga), but there are still restrictions, unlike the European Union (EU).”
Azeem said that unlike the EU, which allows free movement of people, goods, services, and capital among member nations, Asean remains limited under Atiga.
“We still can’t travel freely within Asean countries. We still need to carry passports when we visit other nations,” he said.
“EU citizens can live, work, and study in any EU country, but there is no automatic right within Asean nations. This is something the region can improve.”
He added that any policy discussed during the summit must include Asean’s strategic importance – from the South China Sea to trade routes linking East and West through the Straits of Melaka.
Azeem also said that when Asean negotiates trade agreements, it must not depend solely on the US or China, but also engage with the European Union and BRICS.
BRICS, formed in 2009, initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined a year later. It has since added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Malaysia is a partner country.
Azeem said Asean, formed in 1967 during the height of the Cold War between the US and Russia, is now witnessing a new economic rivalry between the US and China.
Trump – a double-edged sword
He said that economically, the US remains one of Malaysia’s biggest trading partners, and the country cannot afford to jeopardise that relationship.
“American companies have been here since the 1950s and earlier. We must thank them for staying here. But China is a newer power – one that comes with protectionist tendencies,” said Azeem.
“The US-China rivalry will continue for some time. We should focus more on intra-Asean trade – there’s room for improvement.”
While acknowledging Malaysia-US trade ties, Azeem said welcoming Trump to Kuala Lumpur was a double-edged sword.
“The US has played a major role in enabling Israel to commit atrocities against the Palestinian people by supplying weapons. We should not celebrate Trump’s presence here,” said Azeem.
“Historically, the US has been involved in numerous global conflicts – directly or via proxy wars. If Anwar wants to position himself as a champion of developing nations, why is he welcoming someone complicit in the genocide of the Palestinians?”
Azeem said Malaysia must work within the US system by getting lobbyists to convince senators and members of Congress to change US foreign policy.
“America is among our largest trading partners, so engagement is necessary. But let’s remember that US presidents have come and gone, yet their visits have not brought lasting benefit to Malaysia.”
The first US president to visit Malaysia was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, while Barack Obama visited in 2014 and 2015. Obama’s second visit coincided with that year’s Asean Summit.
