TOO EASILY WE FORGET DR M IS 93, EVEN HE SEEMS TO BEHAVE LIKE HE’S 39: MAHATHIR OVERWORKING AGAIN?

SINCE becoming prime minister for the second time, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (he was prime minister from 1981 to 2003) has been revisiting some of his foreign policies.

An observer has come out with a list that included the following: 1981, Look East Policy with Japan; 1990, East Asia Economic Group that later in 1992 had a name-change after Asean agreed to endorse the idea; 1995, Mekong Basin Economic Development and the Rail Network linking Singapore to Kunming, China; 2000, Asean Plus 3 Meeting, which Asean has held with the three East Asian nations of China, Japan and South Korea; 2002, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Terrorism in Kuala Lumpur; and 2003, Non-Aligned Movement Heads of State Summit Meeting, Kuala Lumpur.

As part of the new government’s agenda for its first 100 days in office, Dr Mahathir has been turning to Japan, Singapore and Indonesia to crystallise the ideas that he had developed during his first stint.

In Japan recently, he held talks with his Japanese counterpart. It was reported that Dr Mahathir used the meeting to urge Japan to revive the Look East Policy.

With Singapore, Dr Mahathir took a different tack. He was visited by his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in Kuala Lumpur where the two cleared up issues concerning the two countries, particularly the High-Speed Rail project.

Another issue is Pulau Batu Putih’s sovereignty. Malaysia had submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to have the court withdraw the country’s request for a judicial review of the matter.

This was dealt with by ICJ before the 14th General Election. Dr Mahathir, however, sprang a surprise when he said he would want Malaysia to carry out development around Middle Rock.

Also addressed was the issue of the sale of raw water by Malaysia to Singapore that was agreed by the previous government.

The agreement was at the price of three sen per every 1,000 gallons of water.

Dr Mahathir said he would think of renegotiating the water deal with Singapore for a better set of terms for both parties.

As shown in the exchange between Dr Mahathir and Lee, the former would take his time rather than jump into the thick of things. It appears Dr Mahathir has “unfinished” matters with Singapore.

Dr Mahathir visited Indonesia to get the republic to agree to a joint-venture project to produce Proton cars for the region.

This could be a significant development for Asean if it were to materialise.

It would also resurrect the Asean Industrial Joint Venture Agreement signed by Asean members in 1983 and would boost relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Dr Mahathir does have a lot on his plate considering the hectic pace at which he is conducting foreign affairs. Three down and more to go.

DR AZHARI-KARIM

Retired ambassador, educato and thinker, Kuala Lumpur

– NST