PRIME MINISTER HAILS RESULTS OF MALAYSIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Tonight, the Prime Minister delivered a speech at the Asia-Pacific Roundtable, the 30th year that the gathering of academics, government officials and media figures has been organised by the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
Looking back at the development of the region since 1987, when the Roundtable was first held, the Prime Minister highlighted the significant progress that ASEAN has made, most recently with the Declaration of the ASEAN Community last year under Malaysia’s chairmanship. Within ASEAN, the Prime Minister spoke about the increasingly prominent role Malaysia has played on the international stage and in conflict resolution.
Since assuming office in 2009, the Prime Minister has presided over a new era in Malaysia’s foreign policy and relations with various countries. For example, Malaysia’s relationship with Singapore is increasingly marked by mutual respect and collaboration, as symbolised by the resolution of the Points of Agreement between the two countries in 2010 following a twenty-year deadlock. The Prime Minister said:
“In the past, Malaysia took some unnecessarily confrontational stances, pretending that this was in Malaysia’s interests and it meant that the country was standing up for itself. But I believe that politicians adopting intentionally antagonistic foreign policy positions just for the sake of personal popularity are selfish, shortsighted and self-defeating for their own countries. The national interest must come before personal political interest.
“Developing relations and economic partnerships with other nations promotes peace, stability and prosperity for the people. That has been our approach – and we have seen the benefits.”
In a reflection of the trusted broker role that Malaysia has developed in Asia-Pacific over recent years, the Prime Minister highlighted the role played by Malaysia in facilitating negotiations to resolve Asia’s longest running insurgency in the Philippines. He remarked:
“Peace is an end in itself, and if we can help bring to a close a dispute that has cost so many lives, we would be honoured to do so. But stability will also allow the region to prosper, and make the seas between two neighbours safer. That will benefit both Malaysia and the Philippines.”
This progress has not been confined to ASEAN itself. Today Malaysia enjoys its closest relationship in decades with both China and the United States. The Prime Minister said that “trade between Malaysia and China has been growing at over ten percent a year”. He also highlighted that Malaysia will benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, noting that:
“A study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers predicted (the TPP) would lead Malaysia’s GDP to increase by up to USD211 billion between 2018 and 2027, and would bring additional investment of USD136 to USD 239 billion.
“These are not just figures. Trade and investment bring jobs. Foreign Direct Investment in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector in 2015 is expected to lead to the creation of 66,000 new employment opportunities, while FDI in services will create a further 112,000 jobs.”
More recently, the Prime Minister highlighted Malaysia’s efforts – in collaboration with other countries – to address migration and the country’s commitment to accept 3,000 migrants from Syria over the next two years. At the same time, he repeated his call for moderation to reclaim the centre. Whilst acknowledging that ASEAN adopted the concept in the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates, the Prime Minister called for its endorsement globally.
In closing, Prime Minister Najib Razak repeated his call for closer cooperation, highlighting the benefits this has brought to Malaysia and the region, and those that it can bring in the future:
“By being outward-looking, open to trade and cooperation, dedicated to moderation and tolerance, determined to battle the scourge of violent extremism, and firmly focused on the needs and aspirations of our peoples: this is how Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific can strengthen our mutual security as we move towards the third decade of what many have called ‘the Asian century’.”
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Consulate General of Malaysia, Dubai
31 May 2016