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By Mihar Dias October 2025
It was supposed to be Anwar Ibrahim’s big moment — Malaysia hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit, chairing the table, setting the agenda, showing the world that Kuala Lumpur can play statesman on the global stage. WORLD OF BUZZ
Then came the news: Donald Trump is coming.
So, just like that, the spotlight shifted faster than you can say “You’re fired!”
The former US president has reportedly agreed to attend, but — surprise, surprise — only on his own terms. He wants to headline a “peace deal” signing between Cambodia and Thailand, exclude Chinese officials, and of course, make sure the cameras are rolling when he does it. WORLD OF BUZZ
Forget ASEAN diplomacy. This could turn into The Apprentice: ASEAN Edition.
Trump claims it’s all about peace. But you don’t need a political analyst to know that what he really wants is the limelight. It’s a move straight out of the Trump playbook: land in someone else’s country, take credit for someone else’s work, and walk away saying, “Nobody’s ever done peace like me.”
For Anwar, it’s awkward. He invited Trump hoping to raise regional issues — from Palestine to economic cooperation. Instead, he may have to stand politely beside the man who could turn the summit into a three-day Trump rally.
Anyway, let’s not forget Beijing. Trump’s demand to keep Chinese officials out of the so-called “peace ceremony” is like waving a red flag at a bull — only this bull happens to be China, and the arena is Malaysia. WORLD OF BUZZ
The White House denies setting conditions. WORLD OF BUZZ
Of course they do. But anyone who’s followed Trump knows he doesn’t attend anything unless there’s a big, shiny stage — preferably with his name on it.
So while Anwar dreams of unity, Trump dreams of headlines. And when Trump’s around, the cameras — and chaos — tend to follow.
The ASEAN Summit may have been meant to showcase Anwar’s diplomacy. But if Trump really lands in Kuala Lumpur, it could become one big Trump show — complete with applause, drama, and maybe even a teaser for his next campaign slogan: “Making ASEAN Great Again.”
At this point, Anwar might just hope the summit ends before Trump starts handing out his famous catchphrase: “You’re fired!”
Mihar Dias (mihardias@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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