Name? Anwar Ibrahim
Westphalian identity? Malaysian
Age? 79
Why is he in the news? Last week, on September 8, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called on ASEAN to review mechanisms for combating haze across large parts of Southeast Asia, following a period of severe wildfires in Indonesia. The review involves the 2002 ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP). Stating that ASEAN leaders should pay closer attention to the threat to public health, Ibrahim urged that the practice of open burning in Indonesia be thoroughly investigated.
Why do we care? Since taking office in November 2022, Ibrahim has continued to balance environmental goals with inclusive policies and anti-corruption reforms and cast the country as a regional climate leader. The haze now tests that record at home. Malaysian firms are among those linked to the fires, and Ibrahim has said Malaysia will not shield any found culpable, even as Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto plays down the deforestation driving palm oil expansion.
Why should you care? Ibrahim’s push for further collaboration amongst ASEAN leaders will be a test of Malaysia’s post-chairmanship influence. Pushing for reforms on haze management without the institutional leverage granted by Malaysia’s 2025 term as ASEAN chair allows Ibrahim to continue to dominate headlines. The review of the AATHP signals renewed pressure amongst the nations, and will indicate the future of the regionally important palm oil industry.
Who else cares? Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah agreed with Ibrahim to use the ASEAN framework in addressing the transboundary haze. As countries that share the island of Borneo with Indonesia, the two leaders are aiming to push the bloc by using ASEAN diplomatic channels.
Any further comments? The EU’s Deforestation Regulation, which requires proof that palm oil sold into the EU isn’t linked to deforestation, will tightly influence the outcome of ASEAN’s revised framework, as the same firms Ibrahim is pushing to hold accountable are facing the December-deadline and market-access pressure regardless of ASEAN’s decision.
