Aide denounces opposition's narrow view on Anwar's foreign visits

Opposition figures who label Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s official overseas visits as mere “sightseeing trips” have a narrow-minded misunderstanding of the strategic importance behind these diplomatic missions.

Political secretary to the prime minister Ahmad Farhan Fauzi said such accusations reflect a lack of comprehension of the complex geopolitical and geo-economic challenges impacting the world, Malaysia, and its people.

He emphasised that each official visit by the prime minister carries significant national agendas, including attracting high-quality investments, strengthening strategic partnerships, opening new markets for Malaysian companies, and championing the voice of developing countries on global platforms such as Brics.

“This is not a mere leisure trip. It is proactive economic and geopolitical diplomacy guided by a forward-thinking vision.

“The prime minister’s economic diplomacy initiatives create strategic new economic opportunities, including resuming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union and signing FTAs with EFTA countries,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Farhan highlighted that Malaysia’s proactive approach has yielded tangible results, with approved investments rising by 14.9 percent to RM378 billion, and trade performance increasing by 9.2 percent to RM2.88 trillion in 2024.

He noted the significance of this approach for Malaysia as an open economy, where the trade-to-GDP ratio stands at 130 percent.

“In contrast, during the previous administration, the country’s image was not progressive. History shows the political crises that unfolded then.

“The era of weak and uninspired leadership has passed since the Madani government took office,” he added.

Stable, promising

Under Madani’s leadership, he said, Malaysia is once again viewed internationally as a principled, stable, and promising partner.

Farhan further said that Malaysia’s effective foreign policy is evident through multi-billion ringgit investments, strategic agreements, and the prime minister’s active participation in world-class economic and diplomatic forums.

“My advice to those narrow-minded opposition figures is to better understand the people. The public does not share your mindset, and they cannot be deceived by distorted perceptions.

“The people are discerning and know who genuinely works for the country versus those who spread slander, sow division, and engage in ‘politics without wisdom,’” he added.

The prime minister is leading a Malaysian delegation on official visits to Italy, France, and Brazil since July 1, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing trade and economic cooperation with these countries.

This includes attending the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro as a partner country and representing Asean 2025, advocating regional interests on issues such as global governance, artificial intelligence, climate, and health.

- Bernama

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