Malaysia, the next roaring tiger of Asia?

     Some claim that Malaysia will be the next roaring tiger of Asia; others already herald it as the next Silicon Valley.  

      One thing is certain: Malaysia’s strategic position has yielded positive outcomes as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim works to strengthen ties with both the United States and China.

     Known as PMX, Malaysia’s tenth prime minister has travelled extensively to foster connections aimed at enhancing the country’s stature and influence, while supporting its negotiations across various dimensions of international affairs.

      Unbeknown to many, this is a pivotal initiative by Anwar, recognising that for decades we have been acutely aware our world is swiftly becoming a global village.

      With friendly nations, their leaders are now just a phone call away from the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office. Even in dealings with the West, it is telling that investors are increasingly viewing Malaysia as a gateway to Asian markets.

       Malaysians must realise that the nation cannot afford to remain insulated from the wider world. With its chairmanship of ASEAN, Anwar must set the precedent by dismantling the ‘crab in a basket’ mentality and fostering friendly and healthy competition among member states—ultimately enhancing the region’s economic vitality.

      From a nation deeply mired in the 1MDB scandal, Malaysia is now gaining recognition as Asia’s next roaring tiger. It has friends in nearly every continent.

      Unlike Selangor—also governed by Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan since 2008—the island state of Penang, under exemplary leadership, is rapidly transforming into the region’s next Silicon Valley. 

     This affirms my proposition back in 2008 urging fellow Malaysians to be realistic: it takes 2+1 terms for PH to reach new heights—two terms for cleanup, and the third to propel forward.

       The manner in which PMX and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail handled last Saturday’s “Step Down, Anwar” protest clearly illustrates Malaysia’s democratic progress.

      The police managed the situation professionally, ensuring the demonstrators’ safety. To my knowledge, the intimidating presence of the FRU was kept at bay.

       While the demonstration unfolded downtown, BERSIH’s chairman Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz attended a seminar organised by TindakMalaysia to celebrate Malaysia’s 70 years of elections. 

       Notably, for the first time in the country’s history, the Election Commission dispatched one of its commissioners, Dr Faisal S. Hazis, to the NGO’s event.

      The demonstration last Saturday was merely a distraction, and a considerable waste of time and resources—including many hours of police deployment. While further demonstrations may be anticipated next year with the intention of disrupting Visit Malaysia Year 2026, such manoeuvres by the Opposition are likely to provoke backlash from the business community.

      In keeping with his Madani vision of Islam, what amused me most was PMX’s well-wishes for the demonstrators’ safe return home, and his call upon his opponents to offer viable solutions to global inflation and the nation’s future progress. 

      Instead, perhaps it is time for Anwar’s detractors to acknowledge that his ground-up approach to strengthening the economy is far more holistic than the trickle-down model embraced by the Mahathir administration in the 1990s, which chiefly benefited his cronies and the elite. The RM100 for every citizen above 18 means that the money will eventually find its way to the T20 business people when the money is spent.

       It is timely that Anwar’s endeavours to forge ties with strategic partners across the globe have positioned him as a peacemaker between two warring ASEAN nations—Thailand and Cambodia.

       His leadership as ASEAN Chair in 2025 has earned commendation from the United States.

Also read this: https://come-to-senses.blogspot.com/2025/07/another-reform-already-in-place.html