‘Tibou mindset’ vital for global trust, SME growth, says ex-senator

KUCHING (March 27): A ‘Tibou mindset’ should be adopted by large corporations and government agencies to strengthen global cooperation and empower small businesses in an increasingly multipolar world.

Speaking at the World Public Summit India 2026 in New Delhi, former senator Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian drew inspiration from the Tibou — a traditional swing of the Melanau community in Sarawak — where safety and success depend on collective strength and synchronisation.

“I believe sustainable development is never a solo act. Just as the Tibou requires collective effort to maintain momentum, economic growth requires a culture of trust between states, and between the public and private sectors.

“In today’s shifting geopolitical landscape, transparency in government policy acts as the ‘rope’ — the reliable infrastructure that allows businesses to take the leap of long-term investment.

“Without a firm, transparent grip, the rider — our economy — simply cannot swing,” he said in his address titled ‘The New Currency of Cooperation is Trust’.

Jaziri, who is also head of the International Affairs Bureau of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), said the world is transitioning from a unipolar to a multipolar order, where power is more widely distributed among nations.

“This makes cooperation a necessity rather than a choice. In this fragmented and uncertain landscape, cooperation is no longer a diplomatic luxury; it is a mechanical necessity for economic stability,” he said.

He warned that fragmentation in global trade could lead to significant economic losses, particularly for emerging markets such as Asean and countries in the Global South.

To address this, he proposed the concept ‘strategic reciprocity’, where nations work together based on shared interests and mutual reliance instead of protectionist policies.

On the role of BRICS, he said the bloc must position itself as a platform built on trust-based partnerships, enabling balanced cooperation among diverse economies.

He also highlighted the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), describing them as key drivers of innovation but among the most vulnerable in an uncertain global landscape.

“Our SMEs are the riders of the global economy. In Malaysia and across BRICS nations, they face the highest risks but innovation, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors and digital infrastructure.

“However, they often lack the geopolitical muscle to navigate a fragmented world alone,” he said.

He added that multipolarity should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and collective action rather than a source of instability.

“The new currency of our world is not just capital or commodities — it is the unwavering trust that, together, we can reach the highest point of the arc,” he said.