ASEAN should remain independent and a zone of neutrality amid heightened US and China tensions, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in an interview with China’s national broadcaster CCTV aired last night.

Anwar said Asean was formed to promote peace, stability and co-operation in the region, and these objectives should be maintained.

Malaysia was one of the five founding members of Asean in 1967.

“That position continues. We don’t want the region to be a base for military competition. That position has been quite consistent, although we remain friendly to all countries,” he said in the interview.

He said the region should not be the ground for displays of power, nor should it become embroiled in unnecessary provocation due to the tensions between China and the US.

Anwar said Malaysia has raised concerns that the Aukus trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the US would further aggravate the situation.

“That is why Malaysia took a tougher line on this, and has been consistent in its position since the beginning not to allow this situation to escalate into military tension,” he said.

He also urged China and the US to find amicable solution.

On the domestic front, Anwar said the government also focused on stamping out corruption and ridding the country of that image.

“We have to act tough against this (corruption), because doing so will encourage investors.

“Malaysia used to do relatively better in the 1990s, in term of growth, but it has slid downward for decades after the 1997 (financial) crisis. Now we are back on track,” he said. – Bernama, April 8, 2023.