Malaysia Prime Minister visited London, Brussels and Davos for the WEF this week, meeting a range of stakeholders including UK Prime Minister Keir Stammer, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo,  and  European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. His visit comes as Malaysia takes over as the chair of ASEAN in 2025.  

During his visit, PM Ibrahim sought for more investments from the UK and EU to Malaysia, in particular automotives, renewable energy, banking, real estate, and petrochemicals. He noted that Malaysia was investing in new technologies, consistent with its energy transition roadmap, and shared on the progress of the ASEAN energy grid.He also promoted Malaysia as a country where green hydrogen was being developed (in Sarawak), and the country’s huge capacity for solar and wind energy, and was hopeful that Malaysia would reach its climate goals much earlier than initially projected. . The Malaysian energy board had also introduced third party access to make sure that foreign investors could enter the market easily. 

On reforestation, PM Ibrahim noted that Malaysia still had 54% of its virgin forests, and will commit to keep this figure above 50%. He noted that keeping virgin forests comes at a cost, as some regions in Malaysia depend on forestry for their economy. However, he was willing to bear this cost for the benefit of the environment.

His delegation also included Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Higher Education, and Johari Abdul Ghani, Minister of Plantation and Commodities

He also visited Brugges, where he gave a speech and answered questions at the College of Europe.  

Following his visit to Belgium, PM Ibrahim headed to Davos for the World Economic Forum.

***

 

Full transcript of his speech:  

What is more critical is that the stable world order we once knew is being reshaped by intensified competition within the major powers that are increasingly setting the tone of all global affairs.

This has cast a long shadow over regions like Asia Pacific, where Malaysia calls home, and the EU, who has a growing stake. At the same time, volatile energy prices, supply chain disruptions, and inflation continue to challenge developing countries like ours. It is a disruption, and we must confront these challenges with resourcefulness, resilience, and a steadfast commitment. 

Now, in two years we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of dialogue relations between ASEAN and EU. Things have changed, this is at the time when the gap between global south and global north is perceived to be widening. 

Now, the relationship between EU and ASEAN is a long-standing and multi-faceted relationship,  with ties that stretch across trade and investment, security, and socio-cultural exchanges. Yet, as we seem to deepen this partnership, we must ground our efforts in realism. These two regional institutions were united by shared goals, are fundamentally different in the ordinances. 

The EU emerged in the shadow of devastating wars that reduced much of the continent to rubble. The devastation was attributed to the nation state, seen as a harbinger for all this discord, and by its power, the European project was therefore designed to transcend the nation state and respect on dignity of men and women although i must confess not all European governments appreciate this, as we have seen the different, divisive positions vis a vis the conflict in Gaza.

ASEAN, on the contrary, was born in a different context in 1967. Its member states, many of them newly independent, post-colonial nations, faced the delicate task of solidifying the sovereignty and nationhood during the cold war. 

Understanding these fundamental differences to me is critical to ensuring that collaboration between ASEAN and the EU is based on mutual respect and genuine understanding. The days of marauding Europeans are gone and I believe no party, East or West, is prepared to see any slouching towards the painful and checked history of Asia under the weight of colonisation. 

Today, with the increasing economic assertiveness of ASEAN, and China, and the consequential widening ruff and more robust geopolitical voice, the hectoring and condescension of the past must give way to greater earnestness in engagement and dialogue. 

The days of imposing the values or models of one culture upon the other are behind us, the time has come for a new paradigm, in advancing ASEAN-EU relationship and partnership, one that is old has to be even more be replaced on the platform equality, mutual respect, sensitivity to the other’s needs, and recognition of different paths to shared aspirations. 

In that sense, I find the EU’s distinct challenges in recent years has been trying to understand the fine line between being a normative power and a norm exporters. The EU use well-intentioned policies that are sometimes perceived as over-prescriptive and risk creating an impression of Europe as a distant observer, unaware of Southeast Asia’s complex disposition. 

How then do we begin to bridge this gap? How can the EU continue to lead as a mindful and world’s normative power, while ensuring that its policies lift, rather than alienating its partners. 

The answer, I believe, lies in pragmatism, flexibility , and a reasonable level of ambition. 

Europe and Southeast Asia are two of the most varied readers of the world, and there is much we can learn from one another. The EU’s own efforts of sustaining active anti-regionalism, are unparalleled as demonstrated through mechanisms such as the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Partnership.  

ASEAN, with its emphasis on consensus and progressive globalisation, offers lessons in inclusivity and adaptivity. Like the EU, Malaysia recognizes that the climate crisis is a defining challenge of our time. We have made sustainability a core pillar of our role as ASEAN chair in 2025, and committed to galvanizing the region towards bold, collective action that safeguards our future without compromising our right to development and economic prosperity. 

However, the climate agenda exposes the stark inequities between developed and developing nations. The underwhelming outcome of COP 29 highlighted the continuous struggle faced by countries most vulnerable to climatic impacts in securing the essential financing for mitigation and adaptation efforts, from those who bear the greatest burden and responsibility for historical emissions and global warming. 

Partnerships are key to keeping the hope of the Paris Agreement alive, and Malaysia appreciates the ongoing support for Southeast Asia’s climate positions. Transitioning away from fossil fuels, developing a development power grid into China, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, to Indonesia, building community resilience to extreme weather events and conserving our rich biodiversity and natural carbon sinks. I call on the EU to deepen its support through climate financing, green investment, technical assistance, and capacity building. The adverse effects of environmental degradation  already bind us all, and it is only by strengthening collaboration can we hope to navigate these challenges together.

Now students and excellencies, while we appreciate both literary and cultural significance of Palestinian-American Edward Said’s powerful masterpiece, orientalism, we challenge the objectivity of Western writings of Islam. Nevertheless we can’t paint every European writer on Islam with the same brush. To my mind, we will need to temper our overarching perception, and to a certain extent, our own prejudices, with greater objectivity and give credit where it is due. 

For instance, in Belgium, you have the renowned historian Henri Pirenne, according to whom the notion of total civilizational breakdown in the west consequent to the collapse of the Roman empire was entirely misperceived. To his credit, Pirenne’s thesis, is that the fall in fact signified the beginning of a new epoch in world history, marked by Islamic contest with the Germans and Europe. 

The German-jewish scholar Franz Rosenthal, travelled to Istanbul, in search of the original scripts, in order to produce, among others, his Magnum Opus. These great works open the door to greater appreciation of Islamic works for millions of non-Arabic speaking muslims themselves, thanks to the contribution of the German scholar. Not only to the German and European audience, but to millions of Muslims around the world. 

We have Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany’s most accomplished poet-philosopher. as popular in Asia, southeast Asia, certainly Malaysia. Drinking tea from the mystical wellsprings,  so inspired was Goethe, that he produced his own masterpiece, namely, West-östlicher Diwan (West is the divan), where he declared “God is of the East possessed. God is ruler of the west, north and south alike, his land rests with his gentle hand, Amen”. I cite this in keeping with the title of my lecture today. Because it was indeed a passionate call to build bridges, celebrating the convergence of cultures, which is in your tradition, as it is in mine. But unfortunately ignored, to the extent that concepts cosmopolitanism and globalisation is deemed to be alien.  

Today, in the face of xenophobia, culture mistrust and inter ethnic suspicion and animosity, Goethe’s immortal words cannot ring truer and more relevant. His profound engagement with the East resonated deeply with the muslim poet-philosopher Mohamad Iqbal, one of the greatest European philosophers with one of the greatest minds about Muslims, inspiring him, decades later, to produce the Call of the Marching Bell, invoking the robust reverberations of a full powerful plea for the synthesis of the traditions of the East and the West.  

It therefore boggles the mind that today many of us consider “the other”, foreign or muslims, or in other parts of the Muslim world – aliens, Christians or Buddhist, or the Hindus –  Islam, that is to be considered a threat. Here, a threat to European values, culture and identity, which unfortunately has become a convenient narrative for most right wing and populist politics. This instinct to label those perceived as different, as invaders or rivals for political, cultural and economic power, must be countered with empathy and recognition of a shared human needs and aspirations. 

The truth is that throughout history, Europe has incorporated non-indigenous cultures and ethnic groups into its social fabric, as we Malaysians do – while islam is still the religion of the federation, and we are proud of our muslim heritage, Malay culture is very much comfortable with Western culture. In Malaysia, and across ASEAN, we live in a region with rich ethnic diversities. 

Humanizing “the other” remains one of the most effective ways to combat biases, requiring a combination of exposure and education. We are of the age, unfortunately, of both truth and politics, where anyone today can fabricate truth from falsehood, thanks to the rapid evolution of social media algorithms, now shape perception, reinforcing biases and undermining rational discourse. 

This is our challenge.

But despite all these challenges, we know that when directed by human values, artificial intelligence can unlock advancements in healthcare, foster kinder societies, and can improve education. We must therefore ensure the technology is developed inclusively with pluralism at its core, for the benefit of humanity. 

I’m aware that, with reference to this, I may have painted a picture of doom and gloom as we see in the pivotal years that will shape our region in the days to come. But to acknowledge, to state the fact, and not be in a state of denial is perhaps better than embracing the fallacy. 

The future of our regions, ASEAN, Europe, or Asia and the West, lies in the decision that we make today in terms of the standing partnerships. It is in fact, predicated on our shared vision for security and stability of our regions, but most of all, efficient and consistent delivery of public goods. Now, as we chart the future of ASEAN-EU cooperation, let us do so with resilience, as our foundation, and mutual respect as our guide. 

I am extremely delighted to be here. Having met the Belgian Prime minister and EU Leaders, and having seen this commitment. Therefore let us remember the norms and values that inspire this partnership, rounded in reality, that truly transform our world. Thank you. 

***