KUALA LUMPUR: With the global order unraveling, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Asean to stay the course, upholding its centrality and sense of moral clarity.

The Prime Minister said the bloc must remain South-East Asia’s anchor for diplomacy and dialogue.

Delivering his opening remarks at the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) on Wednesday (July 9), Anwar highlighted the importance of reinforcing Asean-led mechanisms as the bedrock of regional stability, even as trust in multilateralism declines globally.

“Asean centrality must be our North Star, as reflected in the continuous strengthening and innovation of Asean-led institutions.

“We must remain the region’s primary anchor for dialogue, in as much as our Dialogue Partners must continue to find value in engaging with us,” he said.

Warning of a world increasingly shaped by conflict, coercion and mistrust, Anwar lamented the breakdown of international norms and the selective application of rules.

He said assumptions that once underpinned global peace are now collapsing.

“This meeting takes place amid the unravelling of assumptions, where power unsettles principle, and calm can no longer be taken for granted. The global order is fraying,” he said.

He cited the protracted suffering in Gaza and Palestine, the continuing war in Ukraine, spiralling violence in parts of Africa and the unresolved crisis in Myanmar as evidence of this global deterioration.

Anwar also raised concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East, warning of the potential for a wider regional conflict with far-reaching consequences.

“The actions of one state against its neighbours threaten to spark a wider regional conflagration.

“The risks are profound - for energy security, global stability and the integrity of international law,” he said.

Anwar stressed that Asean must not waver in its commitment to international rules, even when global powers retreat from them.

He emphasised that pragmatism and values are not mutually exclusive.

“The multilateral system cannot endure if its principles are upheld only when convenient.

“Asean must be among those who choose to stand for rules, even when others choose to retreat.

“Realism and values are not opposing forces. We need both to guide our choices and to defend what matters,” he said.

Reflecting on Asean’s origins, the Prime Minister said the bloc was forged in complexity and continues to draw its strength from dialogue, consensus and mutual respect - a spirit that must be preserved.

“Asean was not born of ease. It was forged in complexity by nations that understood the perils of division and the promise of dialogue.

“Our region’s strength lies not in the absence of tension, but in our commitment to manage it through mutual respect, continuous dialogue and the search for consensus.

“That is the Asean way - and it must remain our guide,” he said.

Looking ahead, Anwar said the current chairmanship of Asean comes at a critical juncture, where the bloc must determine its strategic direction leading up to 2045.

He also reaffirmed Malaysia’s longstanding support for Timor-Leste’s accession, expressing hope that the country would officially join the bloc in October.

“Malaysia has long supported this aspiration, and we are heartened by the progress made.

“I urge all Member States to continue supporting Timor-Leste’s path to full integration - not only into our institutions, but into our shared vision for the region’s future,” Anwar said.