Brazil's Lula: Governance is about serving the people, not pursuing power

Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after their bilateral meeting at Seri Perdana here today, Lula said that governance should not be about power but about service to the people.

"When we govern a country, I don't like to use the word 'govern'. I prefer the term 'take care', because our mission is to serve those we represent," Lula said.

"To truly take care of the people means focusing on those who are most in need. These are the individuals who genuinely require the government's role and support," he added.

Lula arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a three-day official visit as Guest of the Chair of ASEAN, in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Speaking on global conflicts, he condemned the United Nations (UN) Security Council for its inability to effectively address and prevent the ongoing crises, particularly the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"Who can accept the prolonged war between Ukraine and Russia? How can we be conformist in the face of the genocide that has been taking place in the Gaza Strip for such a long time?

"Today, the UN Security Council - and the UN itself, no longer works. If we do not establish a new world system that can say 'this cannot happen,' these things (tragedies) will continue to occur," he said.

He also warned that the planet is facing risks due to climate change and criticised past global agreements for failing to be effectively implemented.

Lula pointed out that past deals like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement have not been fully followed through.

"The Kyoto Protocol was never put into practice. The Paris Agreement, too, is not being respected by many. The time has come for us to think about planet Earth, not just our own countries. And for that, we need the instruments of global governance, which are lacking today," he added.

On Brazil's participation in ASEAN Summit, he said it highlights the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries and shared that the Brazilian delegation's visit to Malaysia is of great importance, particularly as it marks the first time a Latin American country has been invited to join the summit.

"And that means a lot and it can only happen because there is a degree of confidence between us, between the people. I hope that the Brazil's participation tomorrow and the day after, will be meaningful," he said.

On Sunday, the Brazilian President will attend the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, deliver a statement at the 20th East Asia Summit and later attend a gala dinner hosted by Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on Oct 27.

Lula is also scheduled to participate in the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) today and tomorrow (Oct 25 and 26).

In 2024, Brazil was Malaysia's second-largest trading partner in Latin America, with total bilateral trade amounting to RM20.36 billion (USD4.46 billion).