If you were to ask anyone who the top three most important world leaders today are, the almost unanimous answer would be American President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One of the stellar achievements of our Prime Minister, therefore, is that it looks increasingly likely that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will succeed in becoming the one and only global leader—or at least one of the very few global leaders—who has managed to bring all three paramount leaders to their shores.
Just yesterday, speaking at Ambank Group’s 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary Dinner, Anwar confirmed that United States President Donald Trump will visit Malaysia next month in conjunction with the 47th Asean Summit. Trump himself called Anwar to convey his intention to attend, joining Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who has also confirmed his attendance.
On top of that, Anwar revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “seriously considering” visiting Malaysia, following a recent meeting between the two leaders in Beijing.
“President Putin met me in Beijing and said he is seriously considering coming to Malaysia. So, you have Donald Trump, President Putin, and Li Qiang,” Anwar told the crowd.
For Malaysia—a mid-sized country often overshadowed by larger regional and global powers—this is unprecedented. I doubt that any other nation of our size has been able to achieve what Anwar is on the brink of accomplishing.
In terms of foreign policy, I think Anwar might rank as the best-performing Prime Minister Malaysia has ever had. To find someone who could rival his achievement, one would have to look back to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s first reign nearly 25 years ago.
Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s foreign policy records are so sub par, that they are not worth mentioning in the same breath as Anwar’s excellence. Najib Razak did better than most—his crowning achievement being the visit of then U.S. President Barack Obama, the first Black president of the United States, but even Najib’s successes do not compare to what Anwar has managed to pull off.
The context makes Anwar’s achievement even more remarkable. Mahathir governed during the height of Pax Americana, when the U.S. had defeated communism, was unchallenged as the world’s sole superpower, and the world was enjoying unprecedented peace and prosperity. Anwar, in contrast, is leading Malaysia during one of the most turbulent periods in modern history—when the world order seems to be collapsing, and when every major power is veering towards confrontation.
Mahathir also inherited a Malaysia that was already rising on the world stage, thanks to the groundwork laid by earlier Prime Ministers. Anwar, however, took over after years of decline, when Malaysia’s international standing had been badly eroded.
Anwar’s foreign policy success is not a matter of luck. It is a testimony to his skill as a consummate politician, his ability to read the hearts and minds of people, and his knack for positioning Malaysia as a trusted partner, even amongst great powers that are increasingly untrusting of each other.
When President Xi Jinping of China decided to tour the world at a time that America was starting a tariff war with it, amongst the three countries he chose to go to, to show to America that China also has friends in the world, is Malaysia.
Just a week ago, Anwar had succeeded in getting China to endorse Malaysia to become a full member of BRICS.
Despite Trump's punitive tariff and opposition to Malaysia's stance in regards to the Palestinian cause, Anwar was still able to get Trump to come to our shore next month.
When Anwar visited Russia in May, his rapport with the Russian President Putin was so excellent, that Putin was not only joking with him like an old friend, he is now seriously considering visiting Malaysia, even at a time when Russia is engaged with a fierce and bloody war with Ukraine.
I have no doubt that future Malaysian leaders may exceed him in economic management or domestic reforms—but surpassing Anwar’s foreign policy achievement will be near impossible.
Before Anwar, the answer to the question, “Which Southeast Asian nation has the eyes of the world upon it?” would have been Singapore. Today, thanks to Anwar, the answer is Malaysia.
And Anwar’s record extends beyond just bringing global leaders here. Notably, he recently played a key role in securing a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, whose deadly border clashes had displaced thousands. For this, Anwar—alongside Donald Trump, who also claimed credit—was even touted as a potential candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
While his outspoken support for the Palestinian cause has drawn mixed reactions at home, in the Muslim world it has elevated him to the status of a leading voice, one of the few leaders speaking out boldly on Palestine at the global stage.
In the three years Anwar has been in power, I have had a a gamut of feelings about him.
Sometimes, I think he lies too much.
At other times, I see him as a true friend of the working class.
Sometimes, I suspect he harbors dictatorial ambitions.
At other times, I believe he is the only one capable of preparing Malaysia for the challenges ahead—holding the federation together amid economic headwinds, separatist rumblings, and racial-religious divisions.
But today, whatever else I may think of him, I must add one more entry to that mixed list of impressions: Anwar Ibrahim is the Malaysian Prime Minister with the most outstanding foreign policy achievement in our history.
Whatever dissatisfaction Malaysians may feel about him, whatever shortcomings he may have, what cannot be denied is this: Anwar has put us back on the map.
TheRealNehruism (nehru.sathiamoorthy@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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