Overview - Malaysia's Foreign Policy

An Overview of Malaysia 's Foreign Policy As an extension of domestic policy, foreign policy is designed with the purpose in mind of defending and promoting the country 's national security, economic and other vital interests. Despite the diversity of views regarding the perception and explanation of foreign policy, no foreign policy can be formulated in a vacuum. It must serve to function in a dynamic environment. Malaysia 's foreign policy is no exception. Various geographical, historical, social and political determinants contribute to shaping the nature of Malaysia 's foreign policy and the conduct of the country 's international relations. Added to this is the external environment, or what may be termed as the systemic determinant, which becomes increasingly important with the advent of globalisation and in the wake of the epoch of communication and information technology (ICT). But the basic objective remains the same, i.e. the pursuit of Malaysia 's national interest at the international level. A critical examination of Malaysia 's foreign policy since 1957 would show its steady evolution characterised by notable changes in emphasis, which took place with the change in Malaysia 's political stewardship. A markedly anti-Communist and pro-western posture with close links to the Commonwealth under Tunku Abdul Rahman, our first Prime Minister, gave way to one based on non-alignment, neutralization and peaceful co-existence. Under Tun Abdul Razak, as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Malaysia began to identify itself as a "Muslim nation." The search for new friends substantially increased the importance of NAM to Malaysia. Investments from other than British sources began to be also welcomed. A period of consolidation ensued under Tun Hussein Onn with ASEAN becoming the cornerstone of Malaysia 's foreign policy following the collapse of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1975, the withdrawal of the US military presence from Southeast Asia