PRIME MINISTER OUTLINES FOREIGN POLICY RESULTS FOR MALAYSIANS

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18 August 2016

PRIME MINISTER OUTLINES FOREIGN POLICY RESULTS

FOR MALAYSIANS

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today outlined the achievements of Malaysia’s foreign policy under his leadership, and said that “a future that is based on cooperation, and not dispute, is a path to peace, security and growth for all”.

Speaking at the launch of the Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Association of Public Administration and Management in Kuala Lumpur, the Prime Minister said that when he came to power in 2009:

“I chose to be different, and make a clear break with past approaches. Because I believe Malaysia’s foreign policy should be about building partnerships that benefit the country and the people.”

In the past, said the Prime Minister:

“We had a leader who adopted intentionally confrontational foreign policy positions, perhaps for personal popularity. But the idea that this meant that Malaysia was standing up for itself was a pretence. For it was not in the national interest. In fact, it was selfish, short sighted and self-defeating.”

Outlining his new vision from 2009 onwards, the Prime Minister said:

“I decided that the national interest should always come before personal political interest. That developing relations and economic partnerships with other nations is what promotes peace, security and prosperity for our peoples. That has been our approach – and we have seen the benefits.”

The Prime Minister pointed to:

•  The resetting of relations with Singapore, which has led to the agreement to build a High Speed Railway between to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore:

“Once the railway is finished, the journey will only take 90 minutes. You will be able to have breakfast in Kuala Lumpur, lunch in Singapore and be back in time for dinner in Kuala Lumpur. Imagine the impact this will have on our economies. It will be a game changer for both our peoples, and is an instance of the concrete rewards that come from improving relations.”

•  Malaysia’s role in facilitating the negotiations to resolve Asia’s longest running insurgency, which led to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The Prime Minister said:

“Peace is an end in itself, and if we can help bring to a close a dispute that has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced over one hundred thousand people, we would be honoured to do so.”

• Malaysia’s chairing ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, last year. He said:

“All ten member states came together for the Declaration of the ASEAN Community, which was a milestone in our nearly 50 year history. We were proud that so momentous a step took place here in Kuala Lumpur.”

Under his leadership, said the Prime Minister, Malaysia has been building bridges not just in the region but beyond:

“We have built stronger ties around the world… And these relationships have borne tangible results. Since 2009, for instance, trade between Malaysia and China has been growing at over ten percent a year, and our many joint ventures – both those that are already underway and those we have planned – will play a huge part in Malaysia’s continued development.

“Malaysia is also a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We joined on our terms, without sacrificing the national interest. Indeed, the Bumiputera policy is now enshrined in an international treaty. This […] would not have been possible with the old foreign policy based on confrontation.

“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.”

Highlighting the introduction to the Commonwealth Charter which states that it is “a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies” and “bound together by respect for all states and peoples”, the Prime Minister said:

“This is a good model, and one that all our countries agree upon. But it would be an innovation – a welcome innovation – in some countries that do not act as though they share our belief that sovereign states are each responsible for themselves.

“We in Malaysia believe in reaching out to other states, regardless of political ideology and system, while maintaining an independent, non-aligned and principled stance in regional and international affairs.

“But we do not believe in foreign intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries. We are firm that the days when imperial powers could tell others how to behave, whether politically, economically or culturally, are over.

“It is for nations to govern themselves, and for peoples to give governments their democratic mandate. We in the Commonwealth – many of us from states that were once colonies – should recognise that while larger powers may seek to push us to act as they wish, it is our peoples’ right to choose our own path. So I make no apology for defending the sovereignty of Malaysia and the interests of our people.”

He concluded that innovation:

“Is the path that has enabled us to come up with creative, new solutions that will drive us towards our goal of becoming a high income status nation by 2020, and one where we continue to prize and protect our diversity and harmony.

“But it is also the path that has led us to reset our foreign relations in a way that has led to tremendous gains for Malaysians in terms of jobs, diplomatic leverage and future prospects – and also great gains for our friends.”

ENDS