A TEST OF DIPLOMATIC SKILLS
In relation to diplomacy, Malaysia is middle-power, and Anwar a medium-weight whose diplomatic abilities have but to materialise in one thing greater than world excursions and funding guarantees. His diplomatic acumen will quickly be examined together with his chairmanship of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Anwar has lengthy grappled with a fancy legacy. As soon as a firebrand scholar activist who co-founded the Muslim Youth Motion of Malaysia in 1971, his departure from the Islamic motion, notably after aligning with Mahathir Mohamad’s administration within the Nineteen Eighties, has left him estranged from segments of his conservative constituency.
Two stints in jail for sexual offence expenses – which Anwar has lengthy claimed have been politically motivated – nonetheless compounded a notion of betrayal among the many extra conservative crowds.
The shifting dynamics in Syria might provide Anwar a chance to reclaim his standing inside the international and Malaysian Muslim communities, by advocating for a brand new governance mannequin that resonates with reasonable Islamic rules.
Anwar has made greater than a dozen high-profile journeys to the Center East since assuming office in November 2022. Whereas these visits have bolstered Malaysia’s diplomatic presence, critics argue that Anwar’s overseas focus has come on the expense of addressing urgent home points.
To handle these considerations, Anwar should ship tangible outcomes from his diplomatic engagements. A method to take action is by constructing a constructive relationship with Syria’s rising management.
The USA and the United Nations have already despatched envoys to forge ties with Syria’s new management, signalling a shift in geopolitical technique amid the remnants of Assad’s regime.
In the meantime, whereas France and Germany’s overseas ministers have additionally met Syria’s new leaders, European nations stay cautious about aligning too carefully with Islamic factions as soon as labelled a terrorist organisation.
For Anwar, this presents a chance to advertise stability in Syria whereas championing a reasonable Islamic narrative. His historic ties to those actions, whereas forging a powerful relationship to Western powers, might place him as a principal interlocutor, serving to bridge divides whereas advocating for stability and humanitarian concerns in a politically fragmented area.
Furthermore, Anwar’s potential relationship with Syria’s new management might maintain significance within the broader context of the continued Gaza battle. Establishing an ally within the area might give him strategic leverage as Malaysia seeks to place itself as a pacesetter amongst Muslim-majority nations.
