The violent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have thrust Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim into the spotlight not just as a concerned regional leader, but as the current Chair of ASEAN.
With at least nine civilians
dead, multiple injuries, airstrikes, and diplomatic relations downgraded, this
conflict is no longer a bilateral issue but it is a regional crisis that
demands a strong, strategic response.
Anwar’s actions now will shape
both the trajectory of this conflict and ASEAN’s credibility as a
peace-promoting institution.
So far, Anwar has taken the first
step: calling for peace and reaching out to his counterparts in both countries.
But expressions of concern, while important, are not sufficient.
The region has already seen the
cost of delayed and passive diplomacy in Myanmar. Anwar must lead ASEAN beyond
this pattern of cautious disengagement.
As ASEAN Chair, Anwar should
immediately call for an emergency ASEAN Summit or a Special Meeting of Foreign
Ministers specifically on the Thailand-Cambodia crisis.
This forum would allow for ASEAN
to consolidate its position and craft a unified message, one that pushes both
countries toward de-escalation while offering concrete mechanisms for
negotiation.
Anwar should also advocate for
the activation of ASEAN’s long-neglected peace mechanisms particularly the High
Council under the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). This body was created
to mediate disputes and prevent armed conflict among member states.
By invoking the TAC, Anwar would
give Thailand and Cambodia a diplomatic channel to resolve the dispute without
either side appearing to back down under external pressure.
Furthermore, Malaysia could push
for the deployment of neutral ASEAN observers to monitor the border and ensure
both sides adhere to a ceasefire, should one be agreed upon. This would be a
confidence-building measure and a sign of ASEAN’s seriousness in preventing
further bloodshed.
Malaysia’s historically strong
bilateral relations with both Thailand and Cambodia uniquely position Anwar to
act as a trusted intermediary. While public statements are necessary, Anwar can
also engage in quiet, backchannel diplomacy that offering Kuala Lumpur as a
neutral ground for talks or sending senior Malaysian diplomats as envoys to
both sides.
Anwar’s political standing and
reputation as a reform-minded leader give him the credibility to be seen as an
impartial peacemaker. If anyone in ASEAN can speak frankly with both Bangkok
and Phnom Penh and still maintain diplomatic goodwill, it is him.
The Myanmar civil conflict should
serve as a warning for Anwar and ASEAN. The regional bloc’s slow, hands-off
approach in that crisis allowed violence and instability to deepen. ASEAN’s
credibility suffered, and its “Five-Point Consensus” remains largely
unfulfilled.
If similar inertia defines the
response to the Thailand-Cambodia border clash, ASEAN risks further diminishing
its relevance and worse, normalizing violence as a method of dispute resolution
within the bloc.
Anwar must ensure that ASEAN does not repeat this mistake. Unlike the Myanmar military junta, both Thailand and Cambodia remain engaged in ASEAN and have signalled interest in resolving the issue. This makes the current conflict more solvable but only with active, early intervention.
This moment is not just a test
for ASEAN; it is a personal and diplomatic test for Anwar Ibrahim. His
leadership can either push ASEAN into a new era of proactive conflict
management or allow it to slide further into irrelevance.
By spearheading regional
dialogue, activating ASEAN’s mediation tools, and using Malaysia’s bilateral
influence wisely, Anwar can broker not just a ceasefire, but a process that
de-escalates tensions in a lasting way. He can help ASEAN evolve from a passive
observer to a responsible regional actor.
In doing so, Anwar would not only
serve Malaysia’s national interest in a stable neighbourhood but he would leave
a mark as a transformative ASEAN Chair who chose leadership over hesitation,
peace over politics, and decisive diplomacy over delayed response.
The opportunity is rare. The
responsibility is great. And the time to act is now.
Kuala Lumpur.
25.07.2025 at 10.40 a.m.
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https://focusmalaysia.my/anwars-leadership-crucial-in-aseans-conflict-test/
Note: By the time the article is published at focusmalaysia.my/, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on Friday, 25 July 2025 at 7:36 PM MYT, announced that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire and to withdraw their troops from the border.
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