While the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains the cornerstone of foreign policy, Malaysia has long been engaged in other bilateral and multilateral alliances, pacts, agreements and treaties. These now place it in a truly global web of security, economic and cultural connections.
DIVERSITY & PERFORMANCE: Since taking office in 2009, the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak has put a new emphasis on foreign policy, starting with the concepts enshrined in the Government Transformation Programme and the 1Malaysia programme. The former has set a series of key results areas for the Foreign Ministry, which include realising the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 (see analysis), protecting and promoting Malaysia’s interests overseas, and enhancing Malaysia’s international standing, with reference to the 1Malaysia concept.
1Malaysia bases policy on the realisation that the country’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. With large ethnic Chinese and Indian populations, as well as a majority of Muslim Malays, the country is well placed to be a centre between Chinese, Indian and Muslim interests. The country’s longstanding ties to the West also make it a partner for Europe, Australasia and the US.
SHARED INTERESTS: In practical terms, this means that a series of agreements with other nations and organisations has been put in place. On a sub-regional level, this includes membership in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle.
Amongst Muslim countries, Malaysia is a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and is central in the Asia Middle East Dialogue. Looking west, it belongs to the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation and Asia Europe Meeting. Towards the east, it is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Far East Asia Latin America Cooperation. On a global level, the country is also a member of the Commonwealth, UN, IMF, World Bank, Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77 and Developing 8.
TRADE DEALS: Malaysia has also been a signatory to a number of free trade agreements (FTAs), both bilateral and through ASEAN. Bilateral FTAs have been inked with Japan, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, India and Chile, while ASEAN has FTAs with China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. At the time of writing, further bilateral FTAs were under negotiation with Turkey, the EU, Developing 8, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (which comprises the US, Vietnam, Chile, Peru, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand) and the OIC’s Trade Preferential System.
SECURITY: Malaysia has also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral security agreements. Much of the impetus in recent years has come from the threat of international terrorism, in addition to efforts to combat human trafficking and other multi-jurisdictional crimes. With regard to the latter, one of the most controversial moves has been an agreement with Australia on controlling illegal migration. Agreements have also been made with China and Vietnam on sharing criminal intelligence, with Saudi Arabia on counter-terrorism and with the UK on transnational crime.
Malaysia is also a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum, which brings ASEAN together with 17 other countries including the US, China, Russia, Japan, India and the EU for security purposes. The country is also a signatory to the Five Power Defence Agreement along with the UK, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, which addresses threats to Malaysia and Singapore.
Malaysia has also long had defence and security ties with the US, which under President Barack Obama has been shifting towards the Asia-Pacific region.
Fundamentally, Malaysia sees dialogue as the solution to many security issues, traditionally referring territorial disputes to the International Court of Justice and establishing bilateral committees with its neighbours to discuss any differences. It has also been quick to respond to calls for assistance in conflict resolution, such as brokering talks over Mindanao in the Philippines and sending UN peacekeepers to Lebanon.
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