Photo/Illutration Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Dec. 17. (Naoko Handa)

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his country, which has long looked to Japan and South Korea as models for economic development, is now also interested in learning from China.

“We need to be open to revise any policy that has been in place for 40 years,” Anwar told The Asahi Shimbun in Tokyo on Dec. 17.

He was referring to the Look East policy that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad adopted during the 1980s to learn economic modernization strategies primarily from Japan and South Korea.

“I wouldn’t say ‘East’ (in this policy) means Japan and South Korea minus China,” Anwar said. “Now, when we say ‘Look East,’ it’s East (including China).”

Anwar said that because digital technologies, cybersecurity and other issues are changing the world, Malaysia needs to expand on the decades-old policy while continuing its aspects that remain beneficial.

Anwar described Japan as a “very important strategic partner.”

He said Malaysia’s relationship with Japan should be expanded under the Look East policy such as sharing Japanese work ethics and technologies.

Anwar was visiting Japan to attend a summit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the friendship and cooperation between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Malaysia advocates a "fiercely independent" foreign policy, and Anwar said his country will deal with China depending on Malaysia's interests.

Anwar said when he visited the United States, he was asked why Malaysia is tilting toward China.

He replied, “Because they’re investing more.”

But Anwar said Malaysia will firmly negotiate with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and not allow any unilateral action by Beijing.

Japan announced on Dec. 16 that it will provide equipment for warning and surveillance activity worth 400 million yen ($2.82 million), including rescue boats and drones, to the Malaysian military under the official security assistance program.

Anwar emphasized that the defense equipment is designed to help Malaysia protect its territorial waters and does not include any submarines or large aircraft.

“(The assistance is) mainly for our own security needs, not for offensive or aggressive means,” he said.

(This article was written by Makoto Igarashi and Naoko Handa. Staff reporter Rizki Akbar Hasan contributed to this report.)

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