He pointed out that the world is undergoing another profound shift, with emerging economies of the Global South like Ethiopia rising in not just economic weight but also in moral and political voice.
“With this rise comes both responsibility and opportunity to help shape global governance, to make it meaningful, impactful, and enduring, so that the international order ahead is more inclusive, balanced and equitable.
“But we must not wait for change to happen around us; we must be the architects of that change.
“And by we, I mean you, the youth of today and the future. Who else could be the best and most instrumental agents of change but the youth?” he said at a special lecture for the Pan-African Youth Union and Ethiopia Youth Council at the Sheraton Addis Hotel here.
Also in attendance were Ethiopia’s women and social affairs minister Ergoge Tesfaye, Malaysian Youth Council president Izzat Hafifi Abdul Hamid, Ethiopian Youth Council president Fuad Gena, and Pan African Youth Union secretary-general Ahmad Bening Wiisichong.
Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz and federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa were also present.
The theme of his speech was “Bridging civilisation, building futures, strengthening Afro-Malaysia partnership for prosperity”.
Anwar, however, acknowledged that the youth are not treated as equal participants in the political process in large parts of the world.
This, he said, in turn exacerbates negative perceptions of governments being out-of-touch, unable to effectively address the current critical challenges.
“Certainly, in the key areas of global governance and social progress, I firmly believe the youth can advocate for more inclusive structures that prioritise their voices in decision-making processes,” he said.
He pointed out that everywhere, including in Malaysia, the youth are masters of digital tools and the use of technology, where they can push the agenda for greater participatory democracy to remind the powers that be of the imperatives of transparency and accountability.
“The recent wave of Gen Z protests in several countries has made it clear that the will of the youth is no longer insignificant and that their prioritisation of good governance has increased,” he said, referring to recent uprisings in countries such as Nepal, Indonesia, and Morocco.
Not an academic exercise
Anwar, who is also finance minister, recalled one of his earliest engagements in the Asian Youth Movements in the 1970s, saying that affecting meaningful change “is not an academic exercise”.
“With growing concerns around declining trust in institutions, digital misinformation, and uneven political participation, the youth are stepping forward as champions of transparency, civic responsibility, and inclusive policy-making,” he said.
He suggested that enhancing Asean–African Union cooperation, particularly through youth parliament exchanges, would furnish emerging leaders with comparative insights and revitalise regional governance with added legitimacy and dynamism.
Today marks the final day of Anwar’s official visit to Ethiopia. He will embark on a working visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit before heading to Nairobi, Kenya, for an official visit.