Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership has come under fire after veteran diplomat Bilahari Kausikan criticised his proposal for ASEAN to engage the United States in tariff negotiations as a single bloc. As Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship, Anwar’s move was intended to demonstrate unity, but instead, it sparked backlash.
“It was impossible for ASEAN, given the range in tariffs and the differences in economies, to engage collectively,” said Kausikan, the former Singapore ambassador to the UN, whose candid takes on foreign policy are widely respected. “Only the Malaysian PM thought otherwise or pretended to because he can never resist the temptation to grandstand.”
Kausikan made the remarks in a Facebook post that was also shared by Ho Ching, the influential wife of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The criticism followed a recent meeting in which the Trump administration told a Malaysian delegation led by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz that Washington prefers bilateral talks over multilateral ones with ASEAN.
The push for unified negotiations came in response to new U.S. tariffs—an additional 24% for certain goods, on top of a blanket 10% imposed by President Donald Trump. In the aftermath of the announcement, Anwar, who also serves as Malaysia’s finance minister, argued that ASEAN should respond as a united front.
Despite the opposition from U.S. officials and seasoned diplomats, Malaysian state media gave Anwar high marks. In an editorial published on May 1, Bernama described the proposal as a sign of “acute political acumen” and praised Anwar for “maintaining cordial ties with both friend and foe.”
However, public sentiment online painted a starkly different picture. Social media users echoed Kausikan’s concerns, with some expressing frustration over Anwar’s approach to economic matters.
“At least you guys can witness the stupidity of our prime minister from Malaysia,” wrote a Facebook user named Brader Bob. Another commenter, Jansen Ong, took a jab at Anwar’s record on foreign deals: “MOU is Anwar’s favourite. But nothing gets done.”
Abu Affan was blunt in his critique: “He does nothing more than echo words like a parrot—loud, repetitive, and ultimately empty.” Kausikan later dismissed speculation that Chinese influence was behind Anwar’s plan, saying, “Not Chinese influence but Anwar grandstanding!”
As debate intensifies, the episode raises fresh questions about Malaysia’s ability to steer ASEAN consensus under Anwar’s leadership.
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