Malaysian Foreign

Policies
By: Rohaizan Baharuddin

Malaysian Foreign
Policies
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

ASEAN
OIC
UN
COMMONWEALTH
NAM

ASEAN
HISTORY
South East Asia Countries did not have mutual
relationship as they were belonged to different
colonial powers
8th August 1967 - Bangkok declaration was
signed
- Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand,
Philippines, Singapore formed ASEAN
8 January 1968 - Brunei
1995
- Vietnam
1997
- Laos and Myanmar
1999
- Cambodia
In Application - Timor Leste

ASEAN
POLITICAL COOPERATION
1 - Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality
(ZOPFAN)
to ensure peace keeping and political stability in SEA
Free from colonization and intervention from big power
2 - South East Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone
(SEANWFZ)
to ensure ASEAN members are free from Nuclear threat
3 - Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)
a code of international conduct governing peaceful
relations among countries in the region.

OIC
BACKGROUND
HQ located in Jeddah
an inter-governmental organization with a Permanent
Delegation to the United Nations
It groups 57 nations (mostly Muslim nations)
Official languages are Arabic, English and French
Recognizes Palestine as a legitimate state
GOALS
To develop cooperation in the economic, social and
political field among the member countries
To strengthen relationship among the Islamic
countries

OIC
CONFERENCE BODIES
1 - The Conference of Kings & Heads of State and
Govt.
- supreme authority in the Organization
- the purposes are:
a) to protect the interest of Muslim Nations
b) to consider importance matters to the
Muslims
c) to coordinate the policy of the Organization
2 - The Conference of Foreign Ministers
3 - The General Secretariat and Subsidiary Organs

OIC
CONFERENCE BODIES
2 - The Conference of Foreign Ministers
- The conference shall be convened once a
year of
whenever the need arises at the level
of Ministers of
Foreign Affairs
3 - The General Secretariat and Subsidiary
Organs
- shall be headed by a Secretary General
- appointed by the Foreign Ministers
Conference for a
period of four years
renewable once only.

OIC
CONTRIBUTION OF MALAYSIA
Hosted 10th Session of Islamic Summit
Conference in Putrajaya, 2003
Malaysia first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman
was appointed as the first Secretary General of OIC
from 1971-1973
Established the Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
Gave technical and economical assistance to OIC
members of countries such as Mali and Maldives
Cooperated with few OIC countries to establish
the International Islamic University (IIUM) in Kuala
Lumpur

UN
BACKGROUND
UN replace the League of Nation, which was
formed at 1919 after WWI as the League was
unsuccessful to prevent the outbreak of WWII
Initiated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
of the United States and PM Winston Churchill of
Britain
Officially existed in 24th Oct 1945
Current Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
(South Korea)

UN
GOALS & PURPOSES
Settle any disputes by peaceful way
Maintain the international peace and security
Encourage the co-operation and friendly
relationship
Protects human rights irrespective of color, sex,
race and language
Ensure the non members also follow the
principle of UN

UN
MAJOR COMPONENTS
1 - The General Assembly
- represented by 192 member states
- each has one vote
- almost the same as the world Parliament
- Will be held once a year
2 - The Economics and Social Council
- 54 members elected by General Assembly
for 3 year
term
- To promote higher standards of living in
economy and social

UN
3 - The Security Council
- 15 members (5 of these are permanent)
- All the permanent members have veto power
- Responsible to settle any disputes by
peaceful means
4 - The Trusteeship Council
- supervises the administration of trust
territories
- consists of 5 permanent members of Security
council

UN
5 - International Court of Justice
- Known as World Court
- settles any disputes between the members
and giving advisory opinion to the UN
- consists of 15 judges elected by GA and SC
- HQ in Hague, Netherland
6 - The Secretariats
- serves all the organs of UN.
- leads by Secretary-General
- has around 8,900 staffs in New York and all
over the world

UN
CONTRIBUTION OF MALAYSIA
Drug issue:
In 1987, Dr. Mahathir was
elected as a
Chairperson of
International Drug
Conference
Antarctica:
Malaysia pointed out that
Antarctica and
its natural resources
were part of human
heritage and
should be put under a
wider
group of countries
Peace keeping efforts: Malaysia sent Army
forces for
peace keeping
effort, e.g.
Bosnia

COMMONWEALTH
BACKGROUND
an organization of 53 former independent British
colonies
Consults and co-operates in the common interests of
their peoples
promotes international understanding and world
peace
Every two years, Commonwealth leaders meet to
discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to
agree collective policies and initiatives
Head of Commonwealth is the Queen of England but
Her Majesty has no political power over the member
countries

COMMONWEALTH
CONTRIBUTION OF MALAYSIA
Malaysia organized 16th Commonwealth games
in 1998
Malaysia organized CHOGM 1997 meeting
Malaysia suggested the smart-sharing concept
to practice among the member countries to
share the knowledge and expertise.

NAM
BACKGROUND
a Movement of 115 members representing the
interests and priorities of developing countries
an international organization considering
themselves not formally aligned with or against
any major power bloc
the highest decision-making body is the
Conference of Heads of States or Government,
which usually meets once every three years

NAM
PRINCIPLES
1.Mutual respect for each other's territorial
integrity and sovereignty
2.Mutual non-aggression
3.Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs
4.Equality and mutual benefit
5.Peaceful co-existence