Prepared by Vyshnavi Charrlotte
28th February 2025
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 presents a pivotal opportunity to shape the region’s economic, social, and political landscape. As Southeast Asia faces pressing challenges—from digital transformation, energy transition, and sustainable development—Malaysia has the chance to lead with vision and purpose. By establishing a well-defined roadmap with concrete milestones, Malaysia can effectively guide ASEAN toward achieving its shared regional goals during its chairmanship. To maximize this impact, Malaysia must set a clear roadmap with step-by-step goals for each priority area, ensuring impactful outcomes during its leadership.
Outlining these goals and actionable steps will not only provide Malaysia with a clear strategy for a successful and influential chairmanship but also foster transparency—an essential factor in promoting collaboration among relevant stakeholders. A structured and transparent plan will strengthen regional trust, encourage cooperation, and drive meaningful progress, leaving a lasting legacy in ASEAN’s development.
Strategic Policy Alignment
Two months into its ASEAN leadership, Malaysia has taken steps to set the tone for an impactful tenure. One of the key events marking this momentum was the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), held from the 15th to 20th January in Johor Bahru. Under the theme “Unity in Motion: Shaping ASEAN Tourism Tomorrow,” the forum emphasized sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism, showcasing Malaysia’s commitment to a fair and sustainable ASEAN community (1) . Shortly after, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat convened in Langkawi on January 19th, focusing on “Inclusivity and Sustainability”—a theme that reinforces Malaysia’s leadership priorities (2). Most recently, from the 11th to 14th of February, Malaysia hosted the 40th Meeting of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), its first under Malaysia’s chairmanship. The meeting addressed crucial topics such as the rights of victims and survivors in conflict situations, peacebuilding initiatives, and the proposed ASEAN declarations on environmental rights, inclusive growth, and sustainable development(3).
Public engagements enable stakeholders valuable opportunities to collaborate with the government in meaningful ways, enabling Malaysia to identify priority goals and uncover low-hanging fruits through direct communication. In addition to engaging ASEAN members, Malaysia must also enhance collaboration with external stakeholders and industry leaders who can contribute expertise and resources toward achieving its goals as ASEAN Chair. A recent example of this is Mastercard’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASEAN Foundation to implement initiatives across ASEAN member states aimed at strengthening cybersecurity capabilities for public sector entities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Mastercard Cybersecurity Resilience Program focuses on three key pillars: raising awareness, providing skills and training, and enhancing capacity through technology and intelligence(4). This initiative highlights the value of working alongside industry experts to bolster regional goals—an approach Malaysia should actively pursue across other priority areas.
Leveraging industry expertise to address environmental challenges
One such area where Malaysia can leverage industry collaboration is in addressing environmental challenges, particularly in water resource management. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has pledged to become water-positive (water+) by 2030, returning more water to communities than it uses in its direct operations(5). AWS in Singapore has already demonstrated its dedication to water sustainability through various initiatives, including the exclusive use of NEWater—Singapore’s high-grade recycled water—in its data centres to conserve potable water(6). Additionally, AWS has implemented advanced cooling technologies to maximize water reuse and has partnered with Hydroleap to pilot an electrooxidation-based water recycling system with regional expansion in mind(7). AWS also actively promotes water sustainability through educational initiatives, STEAM projects, and community engagement activities(8). By collaborating with AWS and other industry experts regionally, Malaysia can develop a structured, step-by-step actionable plan for water resource management across ASEAN, ensuring that sustainability remains a core pillar of its chairmanship agenda.
By continuously engaging with stakeholders, industry leaders, and ASEAN member states, Malaysia can create a more inclusive and effective leadership framework that not only aligns regional priorities but also ensures sustainable, long-term progress. These collaborations will be instrumental in driving Malaysia’s vision for a more resilient, prosperous, and interconnected ASEAN community.
MyASEAN2025
Malaysia’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity in its ASEAN Chairmanship is further demonstrated through the launch of MyASEAN2025, a dedicated website that showcases its initiatives, provides regular updates, and highlights key developments throughout its tenure(9). This platform is a commendable step toward ensuring that ASEAN member states, stakeholders, industry experts, and the public remain informed about Malaysia’s leadership efforts and regional progress. Active communication from the Malaysian government is essential in reinforcing its dedication to transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement, while effectively communicating its regional priorities.
To maximize its impact, Malaysia should continue leveraging this platform to provide real-time updates on major policy developments, upcoming events, and collaborative efforts with stakeholders. Expanding the website’s features—such as interactive reports, expert insights, and progress trackers on key initiatives—could further strengthen its role as a valuable resource for ASEAN’s broader community. Ensuring regular and accessible updates will not only promote trust and cooperation among ASEAN members but also enhance Malaysia’s credibility as a proactive and transparent leader.
As Malaysia continues its chairmanship, sustained engagement, clear communication, and collaborative efforts will be key to having a truly inclusive and sustainable chairmanship. By keeping stakeholders informed and fostering open dialogue, Malaysia can leave a lasting legacy of effective leadership and regional cooperation, setting a strong precedent for future ASEAN Chairs.
In line with Malaysia’s commitment to a strategic and impactful chairmanship, Social and Economic Research Initiative (SERI), in collaboration with the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), is set to release an upcoming report outlining key priority areas for Malaysia during its ASEAN leadership. This report aims to serve as a valuable guideline for the Malaysian government, offering insights and recommendations to align its initiatives with regional needs and maximize the impact of its chairmanship.
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