Perikatan Nasional (PN) foreign affairs chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to exercise greater caution, discipline and responsibility when discussing sensitive foreign policy matters.
He said accurate statements and sound judgement were essential, particularly because remarks made by a prime minister could be interpreted internationally as the official position of the Malaysian government.
“Therefore, we urge the Prime Minister to be more careful, disciplined and responsible when discussing sensitive foreign policy issues.
“Mature leadership requires accuracy and proper consideration, rather than diplomatic missteps that could have been avoided,” he said in a statement today.
Anwar recently told Al Jazeera that he regarded Taiwan as part of China, while reaffirming Malaysia’s adherence to the One-China Policy.
Anwar said Malaysia had maintained the policy despite criticism and that it was not a new position, having been practised since the administration of Malaysia’s second prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, who is also Parti Wawasan Negara information chief, said concerns arose after Anwar’s latest remarks on Taiwan’s status prompted an official response from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
He stressed that Malaysia had consistently maintained its One-China Policy, but argued that the policy did not require the government to make statements that went beyond its existing diplomatic position.
“The One-China Policy also does not mean Malaysia has to support, permit or recognise the use of military force to resolve the China-Taiwan issue.
“There is a clear distinction between respecting the One-China Policy and supporting the use of force. Malaysia can uphold the former without supporting the latter,” said the Machang MP.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal called on the government to clarify whether Anwar’s remarks on Taiwan represented the official position of the government and Cabinet or were merely the Prime Minister’s personal view.
He also urged Malaysia to preserve its strategic autonomy and avoid being perceived as taking sides with any major power.
“Relations with China are undoubtedly important, but Malaysia must also maintain constructive diplomatic and economic ties with other countries, including Taiwan.
“Any escalation of tensions or conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have serious consequences for ASEAN, regional security, maritime stability, trade and global supply chains,” he said.
He said Malaysia should instead encourage de-escalation and peaceful dialogue rather than make statements that could heighten tensions or trigger negative reactions from other countries.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal also highlighted the economic implications, claiming Taiwan is Malaysia’s fifth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching RM176.1 billion.
He said Malaysia’s electrical and electronics industry, particularly in Penang and Kulim, relied heavily on upstream components from Taiwan, while thousands of Malaysians employed in high-tech manufacturing depended on stable trade and investment relations between the two sides.
He added that Malaysia-Taiwan ties also covered education and energy, with thousands of Malaysian students, particularly those from Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and Chinese national-type school backgrounds, pursuing higher education in Taiwan each year.
Taiwan is also an important long-term buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Bintulu, Sarawak, making energy ties between Malaysia and Taiwan potentially vulnerable to unnecessary diplomatic tensions, he said.
“Foreign policy is not an arena for careless remarks because the Prime Minister’s words carry implications for investment, jobs, education opportunities, trade, regional stability and Malaysia’s international reputation,” Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said.
