Dispatch II from Malaysia:”Ill prepared liberators do make mistakes” [Archives:2004/745/Opinion]

That was the comment of the Malaysian Minister of Defense, Najeib Razek on the joint naval maneuvers to be undertaken in the Malacca Straits by the US Navy and some its allies in this critical sea lane. There has been mounting concerns raised by certain stakeholders in the security of the shipping crossroads of East Asia, West Asia and Europe that the Malacca Straits has become threatened by possible terrorist attacks to shipping in the narrow straits that extend for 1,000 km. Malaysia has pointed out that the Malacca Straits does pose some worries for the trading partners that see the Malacca straits as a vital sea-lane for their trade and have sought for efforts to curtail pirate activities in the region. However, US administration officials view the lane as being a potential area for what they regard as terrorist attacks being launched by Al-Qaeda and other terrorists, who might be tempted to bring havoc to international shipping. However, Malaysia views any attempts to bring foreign forces of nations that are not indigenous to the region as only inviting attempts by terrorists to enter the straits and wreak havoc in an important course for most of the countries of the Euro-Asia-Africa geographical configuration, in particular, and for world shipping in general.
What is important in Malaysia's clear feelings about unilateral actions, especially in locations that represent a clear stake in the Malacca Straits, is not so much its clear objections to superpower hegemony, but rather its desire to confirm itself as a nation that has the right to assert itself in the international community from a political standpoint. This is obvious, since Malaysia has been able to assert itself economically and with the motto: “If they can do it, we in Malaysia can also do it, if not exceed what they have done”, as Dr. Noordin Sopiee, Chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies said. This does not imply a chauvinistic or arrogant stance by all means, but rather a high degree of self-confidence that comes from a realization that success is not a monopoly of any culture or race, but the product of a strong drive towards achievement, relying on hard work, a commitment to achieve social cohesion and equity and more important a sincere genuine desire to spread the benefit to all who have a stake in the development of Malaysia, starting with all the citizens of the country and then expanding to the regional and international partners.
For thirty years, former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammed, managed to guide his country prudently towards real genuine progress that can now be seen, not just in the indicative ratios and percentage rates of the development reports of the World Bank and the United Nations Development reports, but on the ground as well. Anyone who drives around Kuala Lumpur cannot fail to notice all the widespread new sleek buildings, but more important is the obvious cultural leap that can be read in the speech of the general population. The Vision 2020 paper issued by Dr. Mahathir Mohammed was not simply a nice piece of wishful thinking, or a policy statement that placates the community of donors. The paper b a commitment of the Malaysian government that should never be taken lightly. Vision 2020 reflects a fervent desire to make Malaysia a different model of successful development based on a pragmatic approach that insists that development is more than increasing Gross Domestic Product. “Malaysia should not be developed only in the economic sense. It must be developed along all the dimensions: economically, politically, spiritually, psychologically and culturally. We must be developed in terms of our economy, in terms of social justice, political stability, system of government, quality of life, and social and spiritual values, national pride and confidence”1.
A visitor to Malaysia can actually see that this is no longer mere rhetoric, but a national reality that extends throughout the 9 provinces and two territories that make up the Malaysian Federation. The meticulous cleanliness of the ride from KL airport to the heart of KL is a clear realization of this vision. The several channels of the media (visual, audio and printed) attest to the cultural and educational advances made by the Malaysians since these visions were laid out. The obvious fealty of all ethnic affiliations in this country to one nation is testimony of successful nation building that has dwarfed any semblance of separate ethnic loyalties. More significant on the economic stage is the drop in the poverty rate from an unbearable 50% to a meager 5%, which is on a continuing decline.
This is what deserves to be touched on somewhat more, because it highlights the social responsibility that is viewed with as much importance as the development of the state of the art infrastructure for an advanced services based economy.
Malaysia certainly has a right to assert itself in the international theater, because it has proven that its development approach is laced with care and spiced with a sense of responsibility. In other words, when Malaysia speaks, everyone should listen! Even Washington DC admits that Malaysia's controversial and candid stance is worthy of being considered as “respectable views”. If that is not success these days, then what else can it be?

1 Vision 2020, by Dr. Mahathir Mohammed, published by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, 1991.
——
[archive-e:745-v:13-y:2004-d:2004-06-10-p:opinion]