FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (fourth from right) with other ASEAN leaders prior to the 10th ASEAN Summit at Vientiane, Laos, 2004.
Malaysia has conducted its foreign affairs in broadly the same way as many other newly independent nations: its priorities have been to protect its sovereignty and independence. The formulation and execution of Malaysia's foreign policies are directly related to these goals. Perhaps due to the continuity of the political regime, the nation's approach to foreign affairs has been remarkably consistent ever since Independence.
Newly independent Malaya was caught in the midst of a communist insurgency backed by the People's Republic of China. The world was in the midst of a Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both these superpowers tried to influence and win over new nation-states in pursuit of their respective strategic interests. Malaya tried to stay clear of this and resisted attempts to draw it into military alliances, such as the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). It also tried to keep the region peaceful and neutral, but did not always find this easy—indeed, the formation of Malaysia antagonized neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines.
This section explores Malaysia's place in the world and the instruments it uses to pursue its foreign policy. It covers Malaysia's work within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to maintain a peaceful and neutral region. Malaysia also plays an active role in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Commonwealth and the United Nations, among other bodies.
Each succeeding premiership has seen Malaysia's foreign policy interests extending further abroad, reflecting the desire to become a global player and the confidence to achieve it. During Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra's premiership, the country fought militant communism and fended off communist influence. The Tunku's successor, Tun Abdul Razak, promoted a zone of peace and neutrality through ASEAN and saw Malaysia establishing diplomatic ties with China. Dato' Hussein Onn's premiership was notable for Malaysia's extended diplomatic coverage in the South Pacific, which helped it win support at the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad took the nation to greater international prominence. He was an outspoken critic of certain policies and international institutions that he considered to be unfair to the poorer nations of the globe. An experienced diplomat, Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, on assuming office, became Chairman of NAM and the OIC, which will see him play a dominant role in international affairs.
Since joining the international community of nations, Malaysia has become a very audible and recognized voice, speaking on behalf of the countries of the Third World and the Muslim community. Malaysia's previous chairmanship of the United Nation's Security Council, and its chairmanship of NAM and the OIC, have provided—and continue to provide—the country opportunities to contribute towards a more peaceful and equitable world.