KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed that Malaysia will continue to uphold the principles of justice, peace and sovereignty in its foreign policy, despite what he described as the erosion of values that have long underpinned relations among nations.
He said the current geopolitical landscape has seen power and dominance increasingly overshadow truth, while international law is being applied selectively according to the interests of certain major powers.
Against this backdrop, Anwar stressed that Malaysia will never compromise its principles, and will continue to champion peace, reject domination and imperialism, and stand firmly with those who are oppressed.
“Justice cannot be seasonal, and human dignity cannot be measured according to geopolitical considerations,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia’s foreign policy will remain anchored on independence, firmness and wisdom, without aligning itself with any major power bloc.
Instead, he said, Malaysia will continue to build friendships based on mutual respect rather than dominance.
On ASEAN, Anwar said the regional grouping remains the country’s primary platform for advancing regional justice and stability.
Although ASEAN is not without its shortcomings, he said its commitment to dialogue, engagement and consensus-building is far more valuable than rhetoric that only fuels hostility in an increasingly divided world.
In the same address, Anwar criticised Norway’s recent decision to revoke the export licence for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system to Malaysia.
He said the move was not the way Norway should treat a strategic partner such as Malaysia.
The Prime Minister also revealed that he had received confirmation from United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Washington was neither involved in nor had it influenced Norway’s decision.
Looking ahead, Anwar said Malaysia will continue expanding its network of international partnerships, strengthening ties with existing partners while exploring new opportunities with countries across the Global South.
He emphasised that Malaysia’s diplomacy extends beyond relations between governments, serving as a means to create opportunities for the people, elevate the nation’s standing, and ensure the country moves forward with confidence—guided by principle, prudence, courage and humanity.
— MINUTESMY
