PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has adopted a pragmatic approach in reaffirming Malaysia’s non-aligned foreign policy and maintaining cordial diplomatic relations and trading partnerships with both China and the West.
Being the first non-communist country in Southeast Asía to establish formal diplomatic ties with China in 1973 during Tun Razak Hussein’s era, Anwar’s pragmatic approach in foreign policy has reassured investors’ confidence in Malaysia. This would further consolidate Malaysia’s fundamentals for her future economic re-takeoff.
Anwar had visited China at the early stage of his prime-ministership and welcomed China’s investment in long-term economic development projects in Malaysia, followed by his recent official visits to Western democracies including Australia and Germany that speak volumes about Malaysia’s reassurance to the world that Malaysia’s political values are based on parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.
In other words, re-establishing a stable trading relationship and dialogue with China does not compromise on our democratic values and sovereignty. and furthermore Malaysia would well be a solid platform bridging China and the Western world’s divisions, reconnecting their trading partnership.
Anwar has shown unwavering determination in reforming the economic system, protecting the progressive growth of our democracy, pro-actively fighting corruption and maintaining Malaysia’s longstanding pragmatic non-aligned foreign policy.
These efforts have temporarily stabilised the depreciation of Malaysian ringgit in recent weeks. I believe that Malaysian ringgit would be further consolidated and even appreciated if our economic reforms are reformed substantially and regain the investors’ confidence.
Nonetheless, the current economic reforms would take a few years to see the positive tangible results.
Under the present prime minister’s leadership and the vibrance of the new Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Johor would be another powerhouse of the country’s economy, following the announcement of the establishment of the Special Financial Zone and the kickoff of the Rapid Transit System connecting Johor Bahru and Singapore.
I believe many concrete development plans are on the pipelines to not only elevate the economic status of Johor, but other states would benefit from many other new infrastructure projects on the pipeline.
All sectors across the greater Malaysian society need to realise that we are facing new challenges as a nation, especially competition from other emerging economies.
In order to uplift our own competitiveness as a nation, Malaysians need to set aside all differences, divisions and dichotomies such as Bumiputera versus Non-Bumiputeras and so on.
Malaysians do not have much more time and energy to waste on squabbling between each other over divisive narratives, but we have to unite as one nation in order to explore the humongous blue oceans and challenges in the outside world. Inevitably, we need a newly effective economic model to uplift our competitiveness at the world stage.
I urge Malaysians to appreciate the achievements of Anwar’s leadership in the last one and half year in restoring the constitutional principles of the rule of law and judiciary independence.
All corrupt leaders from any divides would have to face the same degree of censure in due process. The judiciary and law enforcement units’ independence and impartiality is needed to reassure the Malaysian public, and likewise, investors’ confidence. – March 28, 2024
Dr Boo Cheng Hau is a DAP Johor State Committee member