Tengku Zafrul Aziz

Tengku Zafrul Aziz currently serves as a senior political adviser to Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, a role that places him at the forefront of the nation's complex geopolitical and economic strategies. Previously, he held the position of trade and investment minister, a background that informs his current responsibilities. He is newsworthy due to his involvement in shaping Malaysia's stance amidst the intensifying US-China rivalry, where he advocates for conditional neutrality, emphasizing that Malaysia is not compelled to "take sides" in foreign policy matters. Furthermore, his past role as trade minister is relevant as he is now involved in overseeing measures to protect local businesses from intense competition, particularly from an influx of affordable Chinese goods, while still aiming to attract foreign investment and technology. His current significance lies in navigating these dual challenges: maintaining economic openness and foreign investment while safeguarding domestic industries and asserting Malaysia's independent foreign policy.