Emerging countries must realize their future not necessarily 'tied to dictates of big powers': Malaysian premier

By Nur Asena Erturk

Emerging countries must realize that their future should not necessarily be “tied to the dictates of the big powers, be it United States or China,” Malaysia’s prime minister said Wednesday.

Speaking at a public lecture, titled Power shift: strategic choices for Malaysia and Türkiye, organized jointly by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia in Ankara, Anwar Ibrahim deplored the failure of the international order.

The premier stressed that the “international system and order has failed, where political leaders have shown so much contradiction, hypocrisy, where democracy and human rights have rendered useless to many and being questioned by many in our societies.”

He hailed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “realistic position” in this context.

“What the world requires now is voice of conscience, a consistent moral voice,” Anwar stressed.

The premier emphasized the importance for “emerging countries … to realize that our future is not necessarily be tied to the dictates of the big powers, be it United States or China.”

SETA General Coordinator Nebi Mis, for his part, hailed a “real momentum” in relations between Ankara and Kuala Lumpur in recent years amid global uncertainty and fragility.

He also thanked Malaysia and its premier for their position against the Israeli attacks on Gaza, “which has plunged our region into catastrophe.”

- Venezuela, Gaza

Anwar stressed that his country adopted a “very strong position” regarding the situation in Venezuela, noting that an action “must be in accordance with international rules and law, and no unilateral action at any country big or small,” since this kind of unilateral action “requires a lot of concern and instability.”

When it comes to the situation in Gaza, Anwar recalled that Malaysia was “supportive of the struggle of the Palestinian people, because of the principles.”

He criticized the international community for making an “exception” for Israel’s actions although it is also “colonialism.”

The Malaysian premier emphasized that the so-called “expansion” in the West Bank and Palestinian regions is “colonialism” and “oppression,” and the world should at least feel “some disgust.”

“Otherwise, we lose that sense of humanity,” he said.