Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is confident that the ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur will bring positive results. On May 25, he shared updates with regional media about new plans on energy and efforts to help end the conflict in Myanmar.
He said Malaysia has worked closely with other ASEAN members to build agreements. One big project is a power grid to connect Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. He said the deal is almost complete, and the focus is now on building the needed cable links.
The project includes an undersea cable from Sarawak, a Malaysian state with big plans for renewable energy. Sarawak wants to produce 15 gigawatts of clean power by 2035. The cable may land either in Peninsular Malaysia or Singapore. Another option is a route through Indonesian waters. The final path will depend on which is finished first.
Sarawak and Singapore have already made a deal. Sarawak will send one gigawatt of electricity to Singapore by 2031. ASEAN also has a wider goal to build a full regional energy grid. Experts say it could cost around 764 billion US dollars. This system will help countries share clean power and reduce carbon pollution.
Malaysia’s role in this plan shows it is taking strong leadership in the region. Since becoming prime minister in November 2022, Anwar has visited several key countries. These include China and Russia. In April, China’s President Xi visited Malaysia for the first time in twelve years. China’s Premier is also expected in Malaysia soon. This shows how important Malaysia has become during its ASEAN leadership.
Along with energy plans, Anwar is also working on peace efforts for Myanmar. The country has faced crisis since the military took power in 2021. Since then, many people have died, and millions have lost their homes. The economy has collapsed.
Malaysia has spoken to both the military leaders and the opposition groups in Myanmar. In April, Anwar met Myanmar’s army chief in Thailand. He also held an online talk with the National Unity Government, which opposes the army. He said the military agreed to keep a ceasefire in place. This is needed to let aid groups reach people who are suffering.
Even though the military said it would hold the ceasefire, the violence has not fully stopped. Reports from the United Nations say over 200 people were killed just one month after a deadly earthquake in March. Still, Malaysia’s move to talk to both sides is seen as progress. It is the first time the military has taken part in open talks since the crisis began.
Malaysia has also opened a field hospital in Myanmar. The hospital is running and helping people from different groups. The army has not stopped its work. This is a big change from how things were in the past.
On May 24, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister led two meetings with other ASEAN countries. They talked about what should happen next in Myanmar. He said ASEAN has listened to many sides and will now send these views to the military government.
A group of former leaders and United Nations experts also asked ASEAN to act fast. They want talks that include the army, the opposition, and all other groups. Their goal is to stop the fighting right away and bring peace.
Malaysia’s push for clean energy and peace talks shows new energy in ASEAN. The power grid could bring better energy choices to the region. And the talks on Myanmar could offer real hope after years of fighting.
