Abstract

How should we understand Malaysia’s foreign policy under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim? Nearly three years into his premiership, does it represent a clear departure from Malaysia’s established traditions, or is it better understood as a rhetorical shift? This seminar situates Anwar’s approach within the use of personalised soft power in a constrained system, before examining his record in five domains: neighbourhood diplomacy, crisis management in Southeast Asia, engagement with BRICS, involvement in the Middle East, and relations with major powers, particularly the United States and China. While Anwar’s rhetoric projects activism and moral conviction, fiscal limits, domestic politics, and entrenched institutions have constrained dramatic change. The argument advanced is that Anwar’s foreign policy blends continuity with selective disruption, layering new moral flourishes and personalised soft power onto Malaysia’s long-standing tradition of moderation, non-alignment, and pragmatism.

About the Speaker

Ilango Karuppannan is a former Malaysian ambassador with over three decades of experience in the Malaysian foreign service. He is currently an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore, and Adjunct Professor at Universiti Malaya and Taylor’s University. He is also the founder of the YouTube channel Diplomatify, which provides analysis on ASEAN, major power rivalry, and global geopolitics. During his diplomatic career, he served as High Commissioner to Singapore, Ambassador to Lebanon, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, D.C., among other postings. His areas of expertise include Malaysia’s foreign policy, ASEAN diplomacy and regionalism, US–China rivalry, and Malaysia’s Middle East relations.