Dr Ilango Karuppannan, a former Malaysian ambassador and currently Adjunct Professor at the University of Malaya, gave a presentation that discussed how Malaysia’s national governance challenges and PM Anwar Ibrahim’s domestic political and economic considerations are driving Malaysian foreign policy, in a seminar on 5 December 2024. Given the still-divided political landscape, Anwar’s approach emphasises soft power that draws on Malaysia’s foundational principles of non-interference, non-alignment, and sovereign equality, while also leveraging his own influence as a moderate Muslim leader.
Unlike Mahathir, Anwar had fewer resources at his disposal, with Malaysia witnessing slower growth and bearing the weight of more than a trillion ringgit in debt. He was politically weaker and needed to gain as much Malay support as possible. He also had a less than enthusiastic civil service whose Malay members did not vote for his party. His policy pronouncements were often unclear and took time for the civil service to implement.
Anwar had thus fallen back on using Malaysia’s soft power, which was based on its developed economy, peaceful multiracial society and commitment to Muslim causes like the Palestinian issue, which resonated most with Muslims in Malaysia. He also had his own “soft power” as a survivor of political persecution – this was a notably positive aspect of his image overseas.
Through his “Malaysia Madani”, Anwar championed ethical governance and advocated for marginalised groups, such as the Rohingya and Palestinians, while promoting ASEAN-centred diplomacy.
Dr Ilango also addressed questions on how Anwar’s approach to foreign policy has been impacting issues such as Malaysia’s ties with China and the US, Malaysia-Singapore relations, Malaysia’s inclinations towards China and BRICS, Malaysians’ online response to Anwar’s policy towards the Israel-Hamas conflict, and Anwar’s commitment to combat corruption. These issues highlight the pertinence of domestic and external factors in Anwar’s stance on foreign policy.
