JAKARTA: Malaysia will continue to engage with China despite expressing disagreement with China’s new standardised map, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In an exclusive interview with the Jakarta Post, The Prime Minister said Malaysia had taken its stance clearly.
“The map has been there, and we have expressed our view. We disagree with it. We still consider our part of the boundary as our sovereignty.
“We’ve expressed our views, and I think some countries in Asean have also expressed their views. Either similar, sometimes stronger, sometimes less so.
“But we all have to continue to engage with China.
“Our position is uncompromising in terms of protecting our own sovereignty.
“But the way forward with China, because it’s an important neighbour and a friendly neighbour, is to continue to engage in multilateral and bilateral relations with China,” he told Jakarta Post in a recent interview.
Asked if there was any merit in pursuing a multilateral solution to the dispute, Anwar said, “We should never tire of having to continue to engage in negotiations on more complex, multilateral issues, which sometimes take decades to resolve.”
Anwar said engagement was a better option compared to other approaches.
“That is still a better option than an armed or military conflict. So, as long as countries are prepared to continue to engage and negotiate, that is the best option. Although it is not necessarily conclusive,” he said.
On a separate matter, he disagreed with the allegations that Asean did not put addressing climate change as high on its priorities.
“That is not too correct. Globally, we have not made clear pronouncements, but in terms of the Asean vision in terms of the resolution or by the trade ministers, climate issues are at the forefront in the deliberations and the document, and this will be presented again to the Asean heads on Wednesday (Sept 6),” he said.
When asked how Malaysia would approach the issue of climate change in its chairmanship later in 2025, Anwar said that the government of Malaysia had recently launched its energy transition plan.
“Now with Asean, because countries take positions too, I think it’s quite unanimous in Asean all countries seem to be very committed to the energy transition to net zero, but it will depend on the capacity of each country because ultimately it is a very small emission of hazardous waste as compared with the industrialised nations.
“But it’s commendable that Asean has taken these steps quite boldly and effectively, and I think, of course, given the opportunity to express our views, we will push further to encourage Asean to do the needful,” Anwar added.
On Thursday (Sept 4), Indonesia said it would hand over its Asean rotating chairmanship to Laos, which would host the 2024 summit.
Laos would then pass the baton to Malaysia to be the group’s chair in 2025.
