Positioning Malaysia in the International Arena: Perdana Discourse Series, #5

By Perdana Leadership Foundation and Universiti Teknologi MARA

From the time of independence, Malaysia has sought to strengthen its international presence, and has positioned itself by focusing on areas such as international trade, globalisation's impact on developing economies, and development policies. Currently, Malaysia is one of the world's most globalised economies, with its trade 1.3 times greater than its gross domestic product. Her export-led economic growth is made possible through attractive foreign investment policies accelerated by the open markets that sprung from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

As a developing country, Malaysia attaches high priority to the security and stability of South East Asia, expressed through Malaysia's active membership in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean). Malaysia is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The challenge for Malaysia is to continue on its growth path while balancing national needs against growing globalisation and regionalism.

In this monograph, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, speaks on the evolution of Malaysia's foreign policies, from its pro-Western post-independence stance to its present decisively non-aligned position. He talks also of Malaysia's initiatives in fostering friendships among poorer, developing nations, and how that has returned dividends to Malaysia. 

His speech is followed by a panel session in which discussants Dato' Harun Siraj, Dr Azman Awang, Dr Zulaiha Ismail, and Mr Mohd Rafa'ei Mohd Tahir commented on the keynote speech, and offered their own perspectives on the topic. The session was moderated by Universiti Teknologi MARA's Assistant Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Dr Mustaffa Mohamed Zain. 

A useful reference for readers keen to know more about Malaysia's foreign policies, from 1957 to 2003, this publication contains transcripts of the keynote address, panel session as well as summaries of the group discussions. 

The Perdana Discourse Series was jointly organised by Perdana Leadership Foundation, an independent research and archive institution dedicated to Malaysia's Prime Ministers, and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), the biggest public university in Malaysia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Perdana Leadership Foundation
• Release date: Dec 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386876250

Perdana Leadership Foundation

Perdana Leadership Foundation was chartered in January 2003 as a non-profit organisation, founded with gifts from people who supported the vision of a thriving research and learning institution dedicated to the study of Malaysian leadership and nation-building. It is unique in the sense that it began as an entirely private sector initiative, seed-funded and organised by private sector individuals and corporations. Most of the Foundation’s present trustees were the early benefactors of this Foundation. The Foundation’s physical home in Precinct 8, Putrajaya, was completed in October 2003. The stately building now houses the Perdana Library, an auditorium as well as a multi-purpose hall in addition to the offices of the Foundation’s Honorary President and Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. A tax-exempt, non-profit organisation, the Foundation intends to become the premier institution for the study of Malaysia’s Prime Ministers and the central resource centre for research into national stewardship as well as a platform for reflection, debate, and discussion with distinguished figures in Malaysian leadership. On May 10, 2005, the Foundation was officially launched by the fifth Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. who expressed the government's full support for the Foundation's objectives and programmes Perdana Leadership Foundation aims to: Highlight the contribution of Malaysia's past Prime Ministers in the social, economic and political development of the nation Create awareness of the development process of the nation and draw lessons from the nation's history to enhance future development Become the premier resource centre for the policies, strategies and initiatives adopted under Malaysia's various Prime Ministers which may be used and adapted by other developing nations The Foundation also has a broader objective i.e. to promote global understanding by providing a channel for scholars and thinkers to undertake research and idea-sharing for lasting, peaceful resolutions

Book preview

Positioning Malaysia in the International Arena

Positioning Malaysia in the International Arena

Perdana Discourse Series 5

Perdana Leadership Foundation

Perdana Leadership Foundation

This electronic edition is published by Perdana Leadership Foundation, N0.1, Jalan P8H, Precinct 8, 62250 Putrajaya, Malaysia

www.perdana.org.my

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©2017 Perdana Leadership Foundation & Institute of Quality & Knowledge Advancement, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

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First edition 2006

Revised digital edition 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission in writing from Perdana Leadership Foundation. The views expressed in this publication are strictly that of the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher and organisers.

Editors (original edition): Mustaffa Mohamed Zain, Norashfah Yaakop Yahaya Al-Haj, Nurol'ain Mustapha, Zarina Abu Bakar, Mimi Zaleha Abd Ghani

Editor (digital edition): Zarina Abu Bakar

Perdana Discourse Series: Positioning Malaysia in the International Arena

Contents

Introduction to the Perdana Discourse Series

Preface

Acknowledgments

Books In The Series

Prologue

1. Keynote Address by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

2. Panel Discussant: Dato' Harun Siraj

3. Panel Discussant: Dr Azman Awang

4. Panel Discussant: Dr Zulaiha Ismail

5. Panel Discussant: Mr Mohd Rafa'ei Mohd Tahir

6. Summary of Keynote Address & Panel Discussion

7. Notes of Group Discussion

Appendix 1: Profiles of Keynote Speaker and Panel Discussants

Appendix 2: Profiles of Malaysia’s Past Prime Ministers

About Perdana Leadership Foundation

Introduction to the Perdana Discourse Series

The Perdana Discourse Series is a series of talks and discussions on issues of concern to. Malaysians, where the objective is to facilitate dialogue and experience-sharing between experienced Malaysian leaders (whether in office or retired) and university students.

A total of twenty discourses have been held from 2004 to 2016, featuring notable speakers such as the Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad; the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin; the former Auditor-General of Malaysia, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang; and former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar.

The first discourse took place in August, 2004, at the Auditorium of Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The keynote address was followed by a panel session, and earlier discourses featured group breakout sessions among the participants.

The Perdana Discourse Series was wholly sponsored by the Malaysian car company, PROTON.

Positioning Malaysia in the International Arena was the theme for the fifth Perdana Discourse Series that took place in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 9th August 2006.

Preface

Positioning Malaysia in the International Arena was the theme for the fifth Perdana Discourse Series. The discourse was an interactive platform where participants had the opportunity to share and discuss issues relating to policies, strategies, and possible models and achievements accomplished during the tenure of Malaysia's previous Prime Ministers. Participants comprised of university students, academicians, senior civil servants and members of various youth associations.

The discourse started with a keynote address by Tun Dr Mahathir sharing his thoughts and ideas on the topic. This was followed by a moderated discussion session chaired by UiTM's Assistant Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Dr Mustaffa Mohamed Zain. The panel discussants were Dato' Harun Siraj, Professor Azman Awang, Professor Zulaiha Ismail and Mohd Rafa'ei Mohd Tahir. Each presenter took the opportunity to reiterate, list, and illustrate several key decisions, and the contributions of Malaysia’s past four Prime Ministers on Malaysia's position in the international arena.

More than 60 participants took part in the group discussion session to further deliberate on the issues and to reaffirm on the three aspects of the topic discussed: the past, the present, and the future of Malaysia's position in the international arena. Students from various tertiary institutions played key roles during the sessions. They took up roles as facilitators, scribers, and presenters. The outcome of the group discussion session was presented as a closing remark for the discourse.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Board of Perdana Leadership Foundation and the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UiTM, Professor Rahmat Mohamad (Research and Commercialisation/Innovation) for their continued support and confidence in InQKA (formerly known as INKA) to again come out with this publication.

In this fifth series, we are honoured to have Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who shared his ideas and forthright opinions with clarity and intelligence on the topic of Malaysia’s International Relations. We are also very grateful to have with us personalities, each