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View all search resultsMalaysia concludes 2025 chairmanship, strengthening ASEAN centrality
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At the 47th ASEAN Summit in early November, Malaysia concluded its chairmanship of the bloc, passing the baton to the Philippines. (Image courtesy of Free Malaysia Today)
M
alaysia’s leadership during its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship has elevated the bloc’s global standing and reinforced its centrality through strong diplomacy, coordinated policy moves and high-level engagement, say analysts.
Malaysia concluded its ASEAN chairmanship at the 47th ASEAN Summit in early November and officially handed over the role to the Philippines.
Experts credited both Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s active diplomacy and Wisma Putra’s consistent execution throughout what many described as an unusually demanding year.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara described ASEAN’s 2025 term as “turbulent yet effective”. He noted that from the start of the chairmanship, Anwar made clear his intention to strengthen ASEAN’s profile and reinforce the bloc’s role as a central platform in regional affairs.
“External partners now look more favorably on ASEAN, largely because Malaysia leveraged its diplomatic experience, networks and resources,” he told Free Malaysia Today, an independent bilingual news portal focusing on Malaysian current affairs.
Throughout its tenure, Malaysia coordinated more than 300 ASEAN-related meetings, facilitated initial cease-fire efforts between Thailand and Cambodia, and managed renewed engagement from major powers, including the United States and China.
This year’s summit also saw the long-awaited attendance of US President Donald Trump, his first ASEAN appearance in eight years, alongside several leaders from the BRICS nations.
While Anwar led the high-level engagements, much of the operational groundwork fell to Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan and the diplomatic corps under Wisma Putra.
Phar Kim Beng of the International Islamic University Malaysia said Malaysia’s execution showed strong coordination, communication and leadership throughout the year.
“With 330 senior officials’ gatherings, summits and preparatory meetings, the foreign ministry deserves praise for its capacity and professionalism,” he said. “By that measure alone, Mohamad has passed the test with flying colors, there were no diplomatic missteps.”
Looking ahead, Azmi said Malaysia should build on its momentum and support the Philippines as it prepares to assume ASEAN leadership.
“On Myanmar, we’ve seen encouraging developments under Malaysia’s chairmanship. Manila has already indicated it will follow Malaysia’s approach, especially in keeping the issue high on ASEAN’s agenda,” he said.
Phar added that growing global interest in ASEAN, and Malaysia’s enhanced visibility, offers broader economic potential.
“Malaysia has strengthened its brand as a safe, open and reliable trading partner, and with Visit Malaysia 2026 approaching, more tourists are expected to come,” he said.
However, he stressed that increased attention must translate into long-term strategic benefits.
“Welcoming delegations and tourists is only the beginning. What matters is ensuring these engagements lead to tangible, lasting gains for Malaysia’s national interests,” he said.
