Malaysia calls on ASEAN members to show ‘trust and support’ for the bloc

LANGKAWI, Malaysia — Malaysia has called on its fellow ASEAN members to demonstrate inclusivity, “trust and support” within the bloc and to prioritize its interests amid intensifying superpower competition.

Hosting a retreat of ASEAN foreign ministers on the island of Langkawi on Sunday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan stressed the importance of ASEAN “centrality” for its members as the global order shifts and multilateral pacts threaten the region’s security landscape.