A CLOSER LOOK AT CONTRIBUTIONS TO INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Published on 19 Dec 2025

In “Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025: A Closer Look at Its Contributions to Inclusivity and Sustainability,” Dr. Liew Chin Seng examines how Malaysia’s leadership translated the theme of Inclusivity and Sustainability into concrete regional initiatives amid geopolitical, economic, and climate pressures. The essay highlights progress on the ASEAN Power Grid as a potentially transformative step for regional energy security, alongside efforts to harmonise carbon markets through the ASEAN Common Carbon Framework, improve SME sustainability reporting via the ASEAN Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide, and support MSMEs through a new Green Transition Excellence Centre. While recognising these initiatives as meaningful advances, the piece offers a measured critique of uneven adoption, regulatory fragmentation, and the need for stronger regional buy-in, ultimately arguing that Malaysia’s legacy will depend on whether these policies gain continuity and momentum beyond its chairmanship.