KL conference urges stronger South–South cooperation, global institutional reform

The Kuala Lumpur Conference on a Just and Humane International Order, which concluded on Tuesday, underscored Malaysia’s growing role in advancing Global South diplomacy. Jointly organised by Polity, Progressive International and the Third World Network, the meeting featured discussions on global governance, accountability in Gaza and rebuilding international cooperation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, delivering the keynote address, said the fragile ceasefire in Gaza offered a “faint but real” glimpse of hope but warned that lasting peace would remain elusive without justice.

“Morality and power are never easily reconciled,” Anwar said. He urged countries to bridge that divide through principled engagement and reaffirmed Malaysia’s policy of “active non-alignment” - engaging with all major powers while remaining guided by national values and interests.

Anwar renewed Malaysia’s call for a “new order from the South,” describing it as part of a broader demand for fairness and dignity in international relations. He announced plans to deepen cooperation with countries such as Brazil, South Africa and Bolivia in trade, education and research.

Among those attending was British MP Jeremy Corbyn, who described the Global South as undergoing a “reawakening” reminiscent of the 1955 Bandung Conference.

Corbyn praised Malaysia’s leadership, calling Anwar’s message a sign of moral renewal rather than nostalgia.

“Prime Minister Anwar’s call speaks directly to this reawakening,” Corbyn said. “It is a renewal of the promise to build a world where every nation and every person can live in dignity, free from domination.”