Riding the Clash of Superpowers

In his latest Policy & Profit column in The Star, our Managing Director, Amir Isyam Abdul Rahim, examines how Malaysia and ASEAN must navigate an increasingly contested global order shaped by intensifying superpower competition.

The article argues that the world has moved beyond the “unipolar era” into a fragmented multipolar landscape where global powers increasingly prioritise their own strategic interests over traditional international norms and institutions.

At the same time, technological advancement has fundamentally changed the nature of geopolitical influence. Superpower reach is no longer limited by geography alone, but now extends through digital infrastructure, data ecosystems, supply chains, financial systems, and technological dependencies.

Against this backdrop, the article emphasises the importance of strategic autonomy for Malaysia. Rather than becoming overly reliant on any single superpower, Malaysia must strengthen its resilience across defence, diplomacy, energy, technology, and financial systems.

The piece further explores the need for:
• Data and digital sovereignty
• Strategic infrastructure governance
• Asymmetric defence preparedness
• Financial diversification
• Safeguards against political interference in the AI era

As global tensions continue to reshape the geopolitical environment, the article calls for Malaysia to chart its own path with clarity, pragmatism, and long-term strategic confidence.

📖 Read the full article on The Star:
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/insight/2026/05/09/riding-the-clash-of-superpowers

#Geopolitics #Malaysia #ASEAN #StrategicAutonomy #PublicPolicy #Multipolarity #USChina #DigitalSovereignty #EconomicSovereignty