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MALAYSIA’S Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim intensified Malaysia’s diplomatic engagement at the 48th ASEAN Summit on Friday, taking part in a series of high-level meetings with leaders from the bloc’s 11 member states amid mounting regional economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
The day’s programme began with the official welcoming ceremony for ASEAN leaders, followed by the formal opening of the summit in Cebu, where regional heads of government convened to address pressing strategic issues affecting Southeast Asia.
Anwar was scheduled to participate in the ASEAN Summit plenary session, during which leaders were expected to deliberate on regional economic cooperation, security concerns and broader geopolitical developments shaping the region.
The Prime Minister was also due to attend the ASEAN leaders’ retreat at midday, a closed-door session traditionally reserved for candid discussions on sensitive regional matters and long-term policy coordination.
Alongside the multilateral engagements, Anwar was expected to hold several bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s diplomatic and strategic ties with fellow ASEAN member states.
Among the scheduled meetings were talks with Thailand, followed by Cambodia, before another bilateral session with Vietnam at 4.20pm local time.
Anwar was later expected to hold an Exit Press Conference at 4.40pm to outline Malaysia’s position and summarise the country’s participation throughout the summit.
The Prime Minister’s official programme would conclude with a gala dinner hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for ASEAN leaders and member-state delegations.
Anwar is expected to depart for Malaysia later on Friday night after completing the summit’s official engagements.
The 48th ASEAN Summit is taking place against a backdrop of growing global uncertainty, with member states confronting economic volatility, regional security pressures and rapidly evolving geopolitical tensions that have underscored the need for greater collective coordination within ASEAN.
Malaysia Rules Out ASEAN Oil Sales As Import Dependency Remains High
Separately, Malaysia will not be in a position to sell crude oil to other ASEAN countries as the nation continues to rely heavily on imported supplies to meet domestic demand, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said on Friday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting and the Joint ASEAN Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting, Johari said Malaysia remained a net importer of crude oil despite its status as an oil-producing country.
“Since we are still importing about 400,000 barrels per day, we cannot sell oil,” he told Malaysian reporters when asked whether any ASEAN member states had approached Malaysia for oil supplies amid ongoing global energy uncertainties.
His remarks come as governments across the region continue monitoring the impact of prolonged geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions linked to instability in the Middle East, which have heightened concerns over global fuel availability and pricing pressures.
Johari noted, however, that Malaysia remained in a stronger position in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, where the country continues to operate as a net exporter.
“The surplus we have from LNG helps offset the shortfall in crude oil,” he said.
Despite continuing volatility in global energy markets, Johari said the Malaysian government was still able to maintain the subsidised RON95 petrol price at RM1.99 per litre.
He acknowledged that Malaysia, like many other countries, had not been spared from the economic consequences of the prolonged crisis in West Asia, although the effects remained manageable for now.
“We hope this war will end soon, although nobody can predict when that will happen,” he added.
Johari was in attendance as part of Malaysia’s delegation to the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, where regional leaders and ministers have been discussing economic resilience, trade cooperation and the broader geopolitical challenges affecting Southeast Asia. - May 8, 2026
