MalayMail-Oct 14
Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership has improved Malaysia’s diplomatic influence on the international stage, according to the Lowy Institute, which said the country is now a middle power that exerts more clout regionally than expected given its resources. Malaysia ranked ninth among middle powers in this year’s Lowy Institute Asia Power Index, after an almost 20 per cent gain compared to last year. Overall, Malaysia now ranks 11th and is fourth in Southeast Asia. “The two nations that have had the largest increase in Diplomatic Influence for the 2024 edition of the Asia Power Index are the Philippines (an increase of 12.1 points) and Malaysia (up 9.1 points), both led by new and diplomatically active leaders,” the think tank said. “Under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, Malaysia’s diplomatic influence rose by 9.1 points, gaining one ranking to reach 9th place for this measure,” it added. “Malaysia exerts more influence in the region than expected given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s positive power gap score, which increased in 2024.” Anwar’s active engagement with global leaders was attributed as a major factor behind Malaysia’s growing diplomatic influence, with Anwar being far more active internationally than predecessor Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the think tank said. In the two years since taking power, Anwar has held 72 bilateral meetings with the 27 countries featured in the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index, elevating Malaysia from 11th to 5th place in this indicator of diplomatic activity. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/14/under-pm-anwar-malaysia-climbs-lowys-power-index-to-be-fourth-most-influential-in-region/153510
