CHAPTER 13

Malaysias Policy on Regional and World Affairs

Malaysia and Regional Relations

ASEAN Was established on 8 August 1967 The six member countries of ASEAN, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Thailand and Malaysia were joined by Cambodia in 1999 as the seventh member and later by Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, making a total of ten members. ASEAN was set up to build up the strength of regional unity which before that failed to achieve unanimous agreement from all the members. ASEAN became the channel for improving the quality of security and development of member countries through various program including APEC and EAEC.

Objective Speed up economic growth, social and cultural progress nurture and protect regional peace and stability founded on justice and the laws based on the Charter of the United Nations.

Programme Political cooperation on boundaries elimination of smuggling activities and communist threat Kuala Lumpur Declaration27 November, 1971 ZOPFAN Conference of Heads Of ASEAN countries- 1976 in Bali, 1977 in Kuala Lumpur. Agreement of Cooperation Agreement of Friendship International Conference On Drug Abuse and Heroin Trafficking Asia-pacific economic Cooperation(APEC) ASEAN Economic Ministers Conference(EAEC)

Strategies Regional cooperation Shared boundaries Consultation and joint patrol South East Asia as a zone of peace, neutrality, and freedom from foreign interference and on good terms with the Western and Communist blocs Supply and purchase of basic commodities Freedom from nuclear arms or south east Asia nuclear free zone (SAENFZ). Increase in industry, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, telecommunications and energy.

Commonwealth Organisation
Objective To provide facilities and benefit to member countries To have diplomatic relations between member and non-member countries Programme Cooperation in trade, research and economic and social aid Commonwealth SpeakerSpeaker Conference - 1987 Conference of Heads of Commonwealth States 1989, Kuala Lumpur Colombo Plan Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan Commonwealth Fund Technical cooperation Issue of Antarctica as Common World Heritage Strategy Conferences among ministers of different portfolios, members of parliament and speakers of parliament Colombo Plan was implemented to: - supply training and research experts - prepare places of training in universities for those that need them - prepare equipment for research and help - finance physical development projects - aid in health, agriculture and marketing - opposition against apartheid - make Antarctica an agenda for the United Nations Organisation

South-south cooperation
Objective To have effective cooperation among the countries of the south to face the present economic system To restructure the economy involving all the countries of the world The determine the mandate and objective of the south commission Programme Dialogue to from a New International Economic Order Commission Fund Group of 15 (G-15) and Malaysia as pioneer in programmes for investment data exchange, and south2 trade and technology Meeting of Expert Groups Bilateral Payments Arrangement to encourage trade among South-South countries Malaysian technical cooperation in the Myanmar, Argentina, Bosnia, Laos, Vietnam, Peru, Chile Study tours, sending of experts, implementation of socio-economic development and supplies Strategy Handing divers problems including the rate of imbalance in terms of trade, problem of national loans, trade policies encountered, high rates of interest, the problem of trade imbalance resulting in constant deficit and the uncertainty in the rate of foreign currency exchange Exchange of information between government, organizations, corporate sectors and individual Increase banking relations Joint projects in Danang, Vietnam, Cambodia, Uzbekistan and Namibia Offer scholarships to enhance educations performance particularly in engineering, agriculture, law, economic planning and development administration

Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC)

Objective Forge closer unity and cooperation among member countries economically, socially, culturally, and in the field of science. Firm up cooperative efforts to protect honour, independence and national rights. Solve problems of dispute involving Islamic nations. Eliminate any oppression and colonialism to bring about universal peace. Programme Islamic Unity Fund set up after the Islamic Summit Conference (1974). Studies of the History of Islamic Civilization and the Arabic language. International Islamic University of Malaya. Islamic University of Nigeria. International seminar or symposium: - Application of Islamic Syariah (Islamabad-1979), Islam and Social Policies in the Context of the New International Economic Order (Geneva-1980), Islam and Jerusalem (Paris1981), World Islamic Congress (Colombo-1982). Strategy Financing education, welfare, publication and sports. Financing construction of buildings, supply reading materials and education tools and establishing fellowship. Help to Islamic countries facing hardship including Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, and Upper Volta. Cooperation in preparing and sending doctors and voluntary medical workers. Focus on spiritual and welfare development specifically Islamic youths at the international level. Support Islamic Development Bank activities (IDB) and set up IDB in Malaysia in 1995. Unite to support the struggle of the Palestinian people.

Fighting Drug Abuse Internationally

Objective Create peace and security from drug abuse activities. Destroy all negative (drug abuse) activities Programme Strict international legislation International Conference on Drug and Illegal Trafficking in Vienna, Austria 1987 United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control Strategy Mandatory death sentence on locals, and foreigners Cooperation of the UN to fight drugs at the international level. Overcome the problem of youths all over the world in handling drug abuse.

United Nations Organisation Cooperation

Objective Create a common peace with member countries Improve the quality of life of member countries Protect and improve the peoples standard of health in member countries Help backward countries in the areas of diet and formal and informal education Programme General Assembly Security to determine and decide on security issues through the power to veto United Nations Economic and Social Council to improve the quality of life Emergency aid to war victims, in particular, children International Red Cross Organisation Strategy Conference of member countries representations to solve problems up of dispute involving member countries Solve any work issue are disagreement Arbitrate in any international dispute Organize United Nations programmes through agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations hide Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Childrens Fund (UNISEF) Refugee camp as settlements for refugees, set up to shelter and to obtain food, clothes and medicine Help Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees and set up to temporary settlements

United Nations Educational, and Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Objective Develop knowledge particularly science Have close cooperation to eliminate illiteracy Improve the level of cooperation in education and culture to create world unity and welfare.

Programme International seminars and conference Publication of courier using various languages. Financial aid amounting to US $49.8 million from United States to UNESCO between 1981-1983.

Strategy Overcome the socioeconomic problems of member nations. Focus on development in Africa.