by Nurol Akma Latif

Research Focus: An Analysis of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s Approach in Regional Development and ASEAN

Assoc. Professor Sue Valquis Md Mashhor is one of Perdana Leadership Foundation’s research scholars. She is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, UiTM and has been lecturing for 20 years in courses such as Public International Law, Malaysian Legal System, islamic Family Law, Law of Torts, Law and Medicine, Law Relating to Health Care, Legal Process and Administrative Law. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Law in UiTM.

Ms Valquis’s research is entitled “An Analysis of Tun Dr. Mahathir’s Approach in Regional Development and ASEAN” The research aims to study the concept of regional development propounded by Tun Dr. Mahathir for Malaysia during his premiership. Apart from that, the research focuses on Malaysia’s policies relating to regional development and whether any of these policies were extended to the development of ASEAN.

Perdana Leadership Foundation’s Research Awards was introduced in 2005 with the aim of stimulating research on the leadership of Malaysia’s past Prime Ministers. The Foundation offers short-term and long-term grants to qualified scholars with academic adminis¬tration provided by the Institute of Research, Development and Commercialisation (IRDC), Universiti Teknologi MARA. The objectives of the Research Fellowships are: to encourage the study of this country’s history beyond facts and figures; to yield valuable insights for future Malaysian leaders via in-depth study of the nation’s past leaders and how their leadership as well as policies affected national development; to increase awareness of, and boost interest in, Malaysia’s rich intellectual heritage. The first fellows of the Research Awards are Dato’ Prof. Dr. Mohd Yusof Hasan, Dr. Suhaimi bin Shannon, Prof Madya Kamarudin bin Ngah, Assoc Prof Azhari Karim, Assoc Prof Sue Valquis Md. Mashhor and R. Sivaperegasam P Rajanthiran.

ASEAN was established during the time of Tunku Abdul Rahman. Can you comment on each of our Prime Minister’s involvement in ASEAN?

ASEAN was established in 1967.

The Federation of Malaya obtained its independence from the British Government in 1 957. Tunku Abdul Rahman as the first Prime Minister had taken efforts towards regional cooperation by forming the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) in July 1960. Thailand, Malaya and Philippines were the founders. ASA however perished when Philippines made claims onto Sabah in early 1963. After the claims on Sabah subsided, Tunku, President Macapagal (Phillippines) and President Sukarno (Indonesia) set up MAPHILINDO as a move to cooperation but it became stillborn when Malaysia had to face the Indonesian confrontation against the formation of Malaysia in 1963. The confrontation subsided with the downfall of President Sukarno at the hands of General Suharto who took over the presidency in September 1965. A peace accord was signed on 12 August 1966 between Malaysia and Indonesia with the initiatives of Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia and Robert Kennedy of United States. In 1968, the Malaysian government then called for the neutralisation of the Southeast Asia region and proposed the policy of co-existence.

Tunku’s administration focused on a movement for peace, friendship and diplomacy among the member countries in the region. ASEAN was established in 1967 with five original founders namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The early aim of ASEAN was to stop the advancement of communism into South-East Asia.

Tun Abdul Razak had actively during his premiership (1970 – 1976) moved ASEAN into making the region a neutral area. In 1971 Tun Abdul Razak said:”The premise of the neutralisation proposal is regional and national resilience. Southeast Asia must stand on its own feet. We individual countries as well as the region as a whole must be self reliant if we wish to survive. If a country or a people values its way of life, it must be prepared to defend it against any form of external encroachment…”

Tun Hussein Onn was the Prime Minister of Malaysia in 1976 – 1981 and he signed the Declaration of ASEAN Concord and Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. The treaty laid down the fundamental principles of operation for ASEAN namely mutual respect, sovereignty of states, non interference of domestic matters, non use of force or threat and settlement by peaceful means. The 1977 ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur fortified the call for peace in the region. In 1979 ASEAN called for intra-regional cooperation and extra-regional activity.

When Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad (1981-2003) became Prime Minister, ASEAN then was 14 years old. Dr. Mahathir assisted ASEAN by defining its role and identity in the international sphere. As a regional organisation, the member countries have to cooperate to achieve the objectives of the Association. Globalisation is at the doorsteps of ASEAN and it has to be tackled. Foreign investors will only be willing to come to Southeast Asia if the region is politically stable and technologically equipped. When Dr. Mahathir introduced the Look East policy in Malaysia and harped on K-economy, the other ASEAN members followed suit so that the region would be equipped with tools of modern technology.

What were the policies introduced by Tun Dr. Mahathir during his 22 years of involvement in ASEAN?

One main policy introduced by Tun was the Look East policy.Tun was most impressed by the exceptional work ethics of the Japanese and Koreans. The workforce also practiced standards that enhance fair competition in their marketing of goods.

A policy that Tun Dr. Mahathir proposed for ASEAN during the financial crisis of 1997 was Prosper Thy Neighbour. According to Tun, Malaysia should help its neighbours to develop their economy. Intra-ASEAN trade should be enhanced so that there is movement of trade and capital between the member countries.

How can the approaches that Tun successfully implemented in Malaysia be applied in other ASEAN countries?

Malaysia is a cosmopolitan country with many ethnic groups. It is important for Malaysia to be politically stable. Democracy is practiced and previously it had been based on cooperation. But today the younger generation must understand the consociationalism* that forms the basis of Malaysia’s independence. Moderation and tolerance are the basis of unity. Secondly a country must be strong economically so that the livelihood of its people is improved.

ASEAN can learn from Malaysia’s efforts to cultivate unity and build economic strength.

ASEAN consists of a developed nation (Singapore), emerging markets (Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei) and developing countries. How can a balanced regional development be achieved?

The concept of balanced development means the sharing of resources. The creation of Growth Triangles between Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia in the north and that of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in the South are forms of sub-regional cooperation. The resources developed are shared through joint-venture agreements between enterprises and the jobs created will help improve the standard of living of the people therein.

Can ASEAN create a one-value system with so many different cultures and religions practiced in the region?

When the Malaysian Government emphasises on values for development, the government wants the people to adopt positive attitudes towards work and life and take steps to make Malaysia a united, just, stable and progressive country. The need to achieve national unity requires Malaysia to uphold national interests above ethnic and communal interests. Over-concern for sectional and parochial interests will be detrimental to the long-term interests of the nation. Because of the need to maintain stability, Malaysians need to keep their racial and religious differences to the minimum. Values of moderation, tolerance, and appreciation of the sensitivities of each other are crucial in the building of a united, just, stable and progressive nation.

ASEAN too has to identify the values it wants the ASEAN Community to practice. The people must be proud of ASEAN. There should be less formal procedures to enter ASEAN countries and less stringent conditions in the employment of ASEAN people, with no discrimination of employees among ASEAN countries.

Do you believe that ASEAN should strive towards supra-nationalism like the European Union?

I believe that ASEAN countries should keep their overeignty and work along the lines of Smart Partnerships and good neighbourliness rather than supranationalism like the European Union.