30 May 2016
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’.”
ENDS
Please see the full text of the Prime Minister’s speech below.
SPEECH BY NAJIB RAZAK, PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA
AT THE 30TH ASIA-PACIFIC ROUNDTABLE
ON 30TH MAY 2016 AT THE HOTEL HILTON, KUALA LUMPUR
Ladies and gentlemen,
1. I am delighted to be here this evening on the occasion of the 30th Asia-Pacific Roundtable, or APR. This is a special milestone for the APR. The Roundtable has made major contributions to policy discussions about the Asia-Pacific, while the region itself has undergone waves of significant strategic change.
2. Let me congratulate ISIS Malaysia and the ASEAN-ISIS network for this enduring initiative. You have done well in maintaining the reputation of the APR as a premier Track Two security conference.
3. Governments will continue to look to current and next-generation Track Two thought leaders to anticipate the future Asia-Pacific landscape, and to provide frank and detailed assessments of developments that impact the region. The APR should remain one of the key platforms for discussing these issues.
4. Let us recall how different the Asia-Pacific was thirty years ago. The countries of Southeast Asia were either emerging from decades of strife or grappling with the complex challenges of nation-building. China was in the early stages of transformation. In the background, the fractious shadows of the Cold War loomed large across much of the world.
5. Few could have imagined 30 years ago that ten distinct countries in Southeast Asia with diverse forms of government, a multitude of languages and cultures, and differing levels of development would be able to align their economic, political-security, and socio-cultural interests.
6. But last year all ten member states came together for the Declaration of the ASEAN Community.
7. We were proud that so momentous a step took place here in Kuala Lumpur, and under Malaysia’s chairmanship.
8. Let us look at where ASEAN is today. Within the last decade alone, the total ASEAN economy has nearly doubled in size to USD2.5 trillion. GDP per capita grew by 76 percent to over USD4000. If ASEAN were a single economy, it would already be the third largest in Asia and the seventh largest in the world.
9. If current growth trends continue, it will be the world’s fourth largest economy by 2050 – at the latest. Of course, there remains much work to be done to consolidate gains and strive for further achievements; not just over the next ten years, to fulfill the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, but way beyond in pursuit of lasting peace, development and prosperity for the region.
10. Sixty-five percent of ASEAN’s 625 million population are now under the age of 35. The future of our Community along with its security, stability, and prosperity clearly belongs to them. The shape of this future hinges on the bold, transformative plans that we undertake now for the next generation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
11. Here in Malaysia our economic plan has ensured the country’s resilience despite global economic uncertainties and plunging oil prices. Between 2009 and 2015, our Gross National Income nearly doubled. We created 1.8 million jobs.
12. We increased the income of the bottom 40 per cent of households by a compound annual rate of 12 per cent. And our economy grew at five per cent last year alone. We remain on track to achieving high income nation status by 2020.
13. We live in trying times today. The global economy is slowing down. But Malaysia’s economy remains resilient. Thanks to the hard work of the Malaysian people, and the policies and programmes that the Government has put in place.
14. I also firmly believe that in the effort to sustain a strong economy, we need to maintain close and healthy relations with our neighbours and friends, with whom we trade, connect, and cooperate.
15. We do so regardless of political ideology and system, while maintaining an independent and principled stance in regional and international affairs. 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.
16. 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.
17. Developing relations and economic partnerships with other nations promotes peace, stability and prosperity for the people.
18. That has been our approach – and we have seen the benefits. I have worked to deal with legacy issues with Singapore, for example, and our resolution of the Points of Agreement in 2010 after a 20 year deadlock is a good case in point. And both countries stand to gain much from this.
19. It was an example of how we chose to move forward in a spirit of friendship and mutual benefit and put a long-standing stumbling block behind us. We are now looking at building a high speed railway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to enhance connectivity,economic opportunities and people to people contact. And we expect to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in July this year.
20. In the Philippines, Malaysia facilitated the negotiations to resolve Asia’s longest running insurgency, and we look forward to the final implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
21. 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.
22. We have built stronger ties around the world: with China, the US, Japan and the EU, among many others. Indeed, relations with both China and the US have never been so warm. And these relationships have borne concrete results.
23. 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.
24. Malaysia is also a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which a study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers predicted 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.
25. 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.
26. Transforming our economies, and increasing trade and ties with each other, is a path to peace, security and growth for all in the Asia Pacific, and a future that is based – to quote the title of this year’s APR – on cooperation, not contestation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
27. Last year, Malaysia worked with Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh to address the issue of migrants at sea. Over the years, we have taken in hundreds of thousands seeking refuge from war and persecution. Now, we have agreed to accept 3,000 Syrian migrants whom we will welcome over the next two years.
28. We will continue to assist in alleviating humanitarian crises near and far, just as we will continue to assist and to lead efforts to counter radicalism and extremism.
29. We recently launched the Regional Digital Centre for Counter-Messaging Communication in Kuala Lumpur, which will fight the terrorists’ propaganda by exposing falsehoods and misinformation, and spearhead this important work in the region and beyond.
30. At the same time, I have consistently called for the practice of moderation to reclaim the centre and allow for mutual understanding. It is a priority at the national, regional, and international levels.
31. I am pleased that ASEAN adopted this concept last year in the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates, and we call for its adoption at the wider global level.
32. Malaysia is at the forefront in these and other areas, and I am glad that Malaysian leadership is increasingly being recognised around the world.
33. This is why Malaysian companies are trusted to carry out important development projects far and wide. The largest urban redevelopment in Europe is being carried out by a Malaysian company. The Sabiha Gokcen airport in Istanbul, Turkey is being managed by a Malaysia government linked company.
34. 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”.
Ladies and gentlemen,
35. If we turn to our region and to ASEAN in particular, it is clear that we face a series of challenges, including some that are perceived to be growing alarmingly.
36. The Asia-Pacific strategic environment is underpinned by a complementary web of bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral security arrangements. There may be a degree of scepticism about ASEAN centrality among some, but there can be no doubt that ASEAN has been successful in promoting dialogue among the major powers, in particular through the East Asia Summit.
37. The ASEAN-centred regional architecture may help to ameliorate the unstated competition for dominance and influence among major powers. As smaller nations, ASEAN member states must be able to effectively manage relations with these larger powers, while safeguarding their own national interests and collectively advancing regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
38. Admittedly, these interests do not always neatly converge. As a Community forging ahead together, ASEAN member states must nevertheless strengthen our unity, solidarity, and cohesiveness to ensure the continued credibility and relevance of ASEAN centrality at a time when the geopolitical regional landscape is shifting across the cyber, land, sea, and air domains.
39. Developments in the South China Sea call for very careful handling by countries in the
region and beyond. Within the context of ASEAN, we look forward to the expeditious conclusion of a meaningful Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. In the meantime, I urge all of us to recommit to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
40. Moving forward, we will continue to rely on diplomacy and dialogue to peacefully resolve differences and disputes. We will do so in accordance with and in adherence to the norms, customs, and principles of international law.
Ladies and gentlemen,
41. Predictions about the future are rarely precise. History is not always an accurate guide to what is to come. However, it is a useful reference point for what we want to achieve and what we want to avoid.
42. The last 30 years in this region have seen both cooperation and competition among neighbours, friends, partners, and adversaries.
43. The trajectory, however, has been promising, and in the next two days I hope you will discuss ways to help governments in the region increase that level of cooperation and dialogue – even as we are compelled to address the difficult challenges ahead.
44. I wish you a productive and successful conference. It is with great pleasure that I now declare the 30th Asia-Pacific Roundtable open.
Thank you.