Quizzed on China-Taiwan relations, Anwar says he would use force if needed to prevent Malaysia from breaking up (VIDEO)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim believes he would use force to prevent any province from breaking away from the Federation of Malaysia. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

First Published: Wednesday, 19 Aug 2026 2:43 PM MYT

KUCHING, Aug 19 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim believes he would use force to prevent any province from breaking away from the Federation of Malaysia.

In a special interview titled ‘Malaysia between the superpowers’ with Sreenivasan Jain for Al Jazeera’s programme ‘A Changing World? The Contest for Global Power’, which aired on August 16, Anwar said force should be used to protect territorial integrity.

He was using Malaysia as an example when asked if China should be condemned if it resorted to using force should the country fail to achieve peaceful reunification with Taiwan.

Sreenivasan: China has said that if peaceful reunification doesn’t work, they reserve the right to use force if it comes to that. Would you condemn that?

Anwar: I always take it, Malaysia as an example. If one province decides, yes, to break away. Do we use force?  I think I will (to) protect the sanctity and unity of the nation.

Sreenivasan: So, you would use force?

Anwar: Yes. Because otherwise they’ll be fragmented.

His remarks came as the interview examined what he described as growing hypocrisy among Western countries and superpowers in applying international principles.

“I said that this hypocrisy cannot be tolerated,” Anwar said, when asked about his criticism of Western superpowers.

The exchange took place against the backdrop of what the programme described as the weakening of the existing international order and increasing rivalry between major powers.

Anwar has repeatedly advocated an independent Malaysian foreign policy, arguing that the country should not be forced to choose between competing power centres such as the United States and China, while maintaining its position on issues of justice and international law.

The interview also touched on Anwar’s criticism of Western powers over the Gaza conflict and his broader contention that major powers should be held to the same principles and international rules they expect others to observe. — The Borneo Post