KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains consistent in its stance over its sovereignty, rights and interests of its exclusive economic zones in the South China Sea, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking in his keynote address at the 36th Asia-Pacific Roundtable, the Prime Minister said Malaysia would persevere in the face of "all legitimate challenges and claims".
"In light of this, it bears stressing that Malaysia's security lies 'in' and 'with' the region and not 'from' the region.
"We leverage on our geographical location as both a land and maritime country straddling the most important trade routes, and economic position as a key part of various global supply chains to promote regional security," Anwar said.
Among others, the Malaysia-China long-standing dispute stems from the latter's claim covering parts of waters where PETRONAS runs its largest oil rigs.
However, Anwar said while major power rivalry between the United States and China was testing and straining, Malaysia must maintain amicable ties with the two major economies.
"Malaysia must continue to ride on our good relations with both China and the US to promote stronger rules-and-norms based order.
"This order is not based on might or the tendency to ignore the very rules and norms one preaches about when it is inconvenient. That is unconducive and hypocritical.
"What's good for the goose must be good for the gander. So, it must be an order based on fairness, respect and understanding, compassion and international law."
He assured delegates to the roundtable of the United States and China's commitment to promote the rules-and-norms-based order.
"This is not a pie in the sky because in our estimation, both China and the US have affirmed their commitment to it.
"It must go beyond multilateral trade dealings to the realm of a practical geostrategic architecture.
"Indeed, there must be a serious effort to give effect to these grandiloquent terms. Malaysia will do our part to promote this consensus."
Anwar said it was imperative for such a consensus on global security to take into account the views of South-East Asia.
"Without detracting from the contentions of the age of uncertainty, an objective overview of the current geopolitical landscape projects the Global South as showing signs of greater strategic independence. In any event, this development shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
"For Malaysia, this is a natural evolution of a process that began with national independence and should therefore be respected and promoted.
"Accordingly, Malaysia will engage proactively and independently with various initiatives by regional powers and stakeholders, in both the Asia and Indo Pacific. We do so with a clear view of our national interest and priorities, which is deeply tied to the upkeep of inclusive regional architectures."
Delving into the United States and China's intensifying rivalry's impact on South-East Asia, Anwar said it had affected the region's long-standing architecture and norms.
"Under the weight of such stresses, there is a drastic need to revitalise not just cooperation among nation states but greater inclusivity and equity.
"Yet, truth be told, there seems to be no urgency to address this. Some have spoken of South-East Asia being a key part of the chessboard in the new Great Game waged between Beijing and Washington, as the latter once did against Moscow.
"While the major powers continue to assure that a binary choice is not being imposed, the reality for countries in South-East Asia and, indeed, many others across the Asia Pacific, is that it is the only choice offered, if not by word, then by deed.
"It would be a great loss for the entire region if this unfettered rivalry affects all that have been painstakingly achieved by existing and consequential Asean-led multilateral mechanisms."
Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Deputy Trade, Investment and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong and Institute of Strategic and International Studies chairman Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah.
