Malaysia’s geopolitical stance must prioritise national interest

 

From Julia Roknifard

From the conflict in Gaza and the war in Ukraine to the on-going US-China rivalry, geopolitics is constantly driving the news cycle and affecting the lives of all global citizens, regardless of whether they choose to recognise this fact or continue to bury their heads.

For Malaysia in particular, the current global geopolitical turmoil has dire consequences should policymakers and their advisors fail to take into account how events on the other side of the world affect them and how best to respond to these developments.

Malaysia being a trading nation that is heavily dependent on the global system of supply chains and security seems to be at first glance well positioned to take advantage of these developments but seems to be increasingly finding itself on the wayside as opportunities continue to pass the country by.

The country had a history of punching above its weight on a number of key global issues through its outspoken leaders and outsized role in international forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), successfully advocating against South Africa’s apartheid and, of course, the plight of the Palestinians.

But the end of the Cold War and shifting realities have rendered many of the old talking points moot. The Abraham Accords, and Israel’s reproachment with Saudi Arabia and Egypt have largely negated old arguments on its stand over the Palestinian issue and in fact puts it in an awkward position as it “shouts” louder than the Arab states which surround Palestine.

Its over dependence and focus on China does not recognise the fact that India is by far its biggest customer for palm oil and related products and is a major source of food stuff, while it is the US and not China that is the country’s top source of foreign direct investment and Southeast Asian neighbours such as Thailand and Vietnam are its biggest sources of rice, a key staple food.

On the security front, Japan, South Korea and Australia are closer to home and have a direct stake in the South China Sea, an important area that Malaysia lays claim to for its abundance in hydrocarbons, fish stocks and, crucially, trade routes.

While Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has made a strong effort to engage with major powers and has tried to find a balance, successfully translating these words into action has been much more elusive. One cannot take sides if there is a wish to be seen as a neutral mediator and peacemaker. At the same time one can be so lopsidedly dependent on a single trading partner.

Should Malaysia really realise its wish to be a strong middle power and to have a real say in global affairs, it must mobilise itself holistically. This will mean that foreign policy experts, publicly funded think-tanks, the media and the government must drop the silo mentality that they currently operate with.

Experts must formulate sound policies and that demands competence, staying abreast of developments. These must be collated into policy papers that are then communicated through the media to the public to state Malaysia’s public stand on issues of national interest, not only to educate the public but to galvanise them to support the government’s geopolitical stand and engagements.

While local politics and issues may be entertaining (or infuriating, depending on your point of view) these will not prepare Malaysia to face looming challenges such as food security, climate change, the threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

These are very real issues that have the potential to graduate into full-blown crises should they not be managed. A prolonged drought in India or northern Southeast Asia will directly affect food prices in Malaysia. Let us not forget how grain supplies were disrupted over the Ukraine conflict.

Even more worryingly a conflict between China and the Philippines will have a profound impact on Malaysia, from a flood of refugees into eastern Malaysia to trade disruptions and a likely spike in energy and food prices.

Geopolitical developments must be carefully monitored, and responses to these threats must be carefully prepared. It is not a mere matter of a passing event but a prolonged or even fundamental shift in how Malaysia will be impacted in its dealings with its regional partners and indeed global ones. Malaysia cannot afford to take a “wait-and-see” approach but must actively prepare itself for the challenges ahead. - FMT

 

Dr. Julia Roknifard is Assistant Professor School of Politics, History and International Relations (PHIR) University of Nottingham Malaysia. She is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.