MALAYSIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
ONE OF THE AIMS OF MALAYSIA’S FOREIGN POLICY IS TO LIVE PEACEFULLY AND MAINTAIN FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH ITS TWO IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURS ( SINGAPOREAND INDONESIA). DISCUSS ITS FEASIBILITY AND POSSIBLE INSURMOUNTABLE DIFFERENCES THAT MAY OBSTRUCT THE AIM
INTRODUCTION
Malaysia foreign policy formulated just after independent in 1957 by the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putera Al- Haj. The historically factors such as colonisation and the important outcome which occurred during the period has given very significance impact towards Malaysia foreign policy. They have three important outcomes which is the confrontation with Indonesia in 1963, the argument about Sabah belonging with Philippines in the same year and the separation of Singapore in 1965. However, Tunku Abdul Rahman and the government body have decided the aim of Malaysia foreign policy. Even if not clearly stated but from various policies which was implemented in the era, Azizi Ahmad ( ) has attracted three main aim of the policy. Firstly is to be known as an independence state with own government and sovereignty. Second is to gain the security for the people and willing to defend the nation from any aggressor and lastly is to have good relationship with the neighbouring country in order to upgrade the mutual understanding.
After 52 years of independence and lead by five Prime Ministers, the fundamental aim of Malaysia Foreign Policy has not change but has undergone some major changes in her policy formulation and implementation, particularly in dealing with ASEAN countries. Base on the ASEAN spirit and positive concept such as Prosper Thy Neighbour, Malaysia manage to settle differences, misunderstanding, and problem with her neighbours diplomatically. In the case of the most closes neighbour which is Indonesia and Singapore, both countries enjoy a healthy bilateral relations based on mutual respect in the spirit of good neighborliness. The warm and cordial relations was sustained through constant exchanges of visits at all level from the Prime Minister to people to people contacts between both countries. The leadership of both countries has also taken efforts to enhance people to people contact between Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. How ever there are some problems that remained unsolved and each member states involved are not willing to withdraw their claims such as the border problem, the overlapping claim on the Spratlys Island, the immigrants issues and others. These unresolved problems might posed as possible insurmountable differences which will obstruct Malaysia foreign policy aim. Therefore, this paper will dicuss the four important points. They are to define the understanding on the two aims, to discus the feasibility and possible insurmountable differences and to analyse its possibility in near future.
DEFINITION
Live Peaceful
To live peacefully become the most important in every nation state foreign policy objectives. It is a responsible of the ruler or government to make sure the peoples in the country live peacefully between them. Any issues which seen as an obstacle to achieve such aim must be solve immediately. According to Sodiq Yushau (2009) in his research on Nigerian, he defined Live Peaceful as “…to work relentlessly with open minds and sincere hearts for the unity of the nation. This great hope of unity and peaceful coexistence is a dream that can be achieved. It is time to sow the seeds of unity…”. Therefore, ‘work relentlessly’ can consider one of the elements in the concept of ‘live peacefully’. However, Brubaker (2008) described that live peacefully in a great ‘world house’ required every members of the family must learn somehow to live with each other in peace. The members should re-establish the moral ends of our lives in personal character and social justice. In both definition, live peaceful can be describe as the good relation among the people in the country.
Friendly Neighbours
In international relation, friendly neighbours can be defining as comfortable relationship between two separate identities such as state. The friendly neighbours always indicate by distance and the state behaviour toward another state. Therefore, any state which closer to the state it considers as a neighbour. The term of friendly or unfriendly is the product of state behaviour. The states that do not respect other state interest will be considered unfriendly. However, according Vihma (2009), friendly neighbours is states that give a respect on UN nation requirements such as respect the other states sovereignty.
