Malaysia–New Zealand relations explained

Filetype:svg
Mission1:Malaysian High Commission, Wellington
Mission2:New Zealand High Commission, Kuala Lumpur
Envoytitle1:High Commissioner
Envoy1:Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo
Envoytitle2:High Commissioner
Envoy2:H.E. Pam Dunn

Malaysia–New Zealand relations (Malay: Hubungan Malaysia–New Zealand; Jawi: هوبوڠن مليسيا-نيوزيلند; Maori: Ngā whanaungatanga Malaysia-Maori) refers to foreign relations between Malaysia and New Zealand. Malaysia has a High Commission in Wellington,[1] and New Zealand has a High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.[2] Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Malaysia is important to New Zealand for strategic, political and economic reasons,[3] [4] with both countries' leaders were engaged in frequent visits to boost their relations.[3] [4] [5]

Country comparison

Coat of Arms
Flag
Population31,360,0005,084,000
Area330803km2268021km2
Population Density92/sqkm17.9/sqkm
Time zones12
CapitalPutrajayaWellington
Largest CityKuala Lumpur – 1,768,000Auckland – 1,657,200
GovernmentFederal parliamentary elective constitutional monarchyUnitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Established31 August 1957 (Independence from UK)
16 September 1963 (Formation of Malaysia)		7 May 1856
First LeaderAbdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan (Monarch)
Tunku Abdul Rahman (Prime Minister)		Queen Victoria (Monarch)
Henry Sewell (Prime Minister)
Head of StateMonarch

Ibrahim

Monarch

Charles III

Head of GovernmentPrime Minister

Anwar Ibrahim

Prime Minister

Christopher Luxon

LegislatureParliament of MalaysiaParliament of New Zealand
Upper HouseSenate
President

Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

none
Lower HouseHouse of Representatives
Speaker

Johari Abdul

House of Representatives
Speaker

Adrian Rurawhe

JudiciaryFederal Court of Malaysia
Chief Justice

Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat

Supreme Court of New Zealand
Chief Justice: Helen Winkelmann
National languageMalaysianEnglish
GDP (nominal)$800.169 billion ($25,833 per capita)US$215.1 billion (44,069 per capita)

History

Official diplomatic relations between Malaysia and New Zealand has been established since 25 September 1957, with Malaysia remains as one of the oldest partner for New Zealand in Southeast Asia.[3] The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has maintained its presence since the 1950s to fight alongside its allies from the threat of communism in the Malayan Emergency, Second Malayan Emergency and Sarawak Communist Insurgency. Following the path of the formation of the Malaysian federation, the NZDF also defended the British Malaya and Borneo from the Indonesian military infiltration.[6] [7] [8] [9]

In June 2024, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof and Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin to reaffirm bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence, security, people-to-people links, science and technology, and trade and economic engagement.[10]

Diplomatic relations

Malaysia is represented by a High Commission in Wellington while New Zealand is represented by a High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

In 2014, a Malaysian diplomat named Mohammed Rizalman Ismail was arrested by the New Zealand Police and charged with burglary and assault with intent to rape after allegedly following a 21-year-old woman, Tania Billingsley to her home.[11] [12]

Trade and economic relations

The economic relations between the two countries also underpinned by four free trade agreements, including:

The trade and economic relationship between Malaysia and New Zealand is strong. This is in part because Malaysia occupies an influential position within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is well-known to New Zealanders. In 2005, Malaysia and New Zealand initiated discussions on a bilateral free-trade agreement.[16] On 6 August 2020 Malaysia and New Zealand completed an Exchange of Letters to amend Article 1 of Annex 3 of the Malaysia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. The amendment to Annex 3 entered into force on 1 October 2020.[17]

In 2012, Malaysia was New Zealand's eighth-largest trading partner with Malaysia's exports comprising petroleum, computer and television equipment and palm oil worth around NZ$1.84 Billion, while New Zealand exports to Malaysia stood at NZ$888 million, consisting of dairy products, meat and scrap metal. A free trade agreement between the two countries was signed on 26 October 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, and entered into force in August 2010.[18] Many New Zealand companies have a significant presence in Malaysia, primarily in the food, telecommunications and ICTs sectors. The Free Trade Agreement aimed to encourage two-way investment between Malaysia and New Zealand.[19]

The total bilateral trade between two countries in 2016 stood at US$1.42 billion with exports amounted to US$730 million, while imports amounted to US$680 million. In 2017, the two countries expressed their interest to expand the collaboration in ICTs and tourism sectors.[20] In the same year, New Zealand economic relations with Malaysia is also being discovered in other areas such as food (mainly dairies products) and beverage sector and both countries announced their intention to fosters stronger business and cultural links between them. A cultural exchange between Māori and the indigenous people of the Malaysian state of Sabah have been held in Kota Kinabalu.[21] New Zealand welcomed a group of 15 delegates from the Malaysian state of Sarawak government for a meeting held in April 2019, to share and discuss common indigenous interests and co-operation.[22]

Education relations

Under the Colombo Plan, a large numbers of Malaysian students have were given the opportunity to study in New Zealand.[3] [19] New Zealand are working to attract more students from Malaysia as part of the country efforts to promote it as a first choice for foreign study. An arrangement on higher education co-operation was signed between the two countries in 2013.[9] In 2019, further education relations are reinforced between New Zealand and the Malaysian State of Sarawak.[23]

Security relations

New Zealand and Malaysia are both members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements. New Zealand plays a key role in the frequent military exercises between the countries involved.[24] [25]

See also

References

  1. Web site: Malaysia High Commission, New Zealand . 25 July 2022.
  2. Web site: Trade . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and . New Zealand High Commission . 2022-07-25 . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade . en-NZ.
  3. Web site: Our relationship with Malaysia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand). 20 April 2017.
  4. Web site: NZ keen to enhance ties with Malaysia – With David Pine. Peter Sibon. The Borneo Post. 3 November 2013. 20 February 2015.
  5. Web site: McClay in talks to promote trade & investment with Malaysia. Hon Todd McClay. Government of New Zealand. Scoop.co.nz. 17 April 2017. 20 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170418062212/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1704/S00197/mcclay-in-talks-to-promote-trade-investment-with-malaysia.htm. 18 April 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Aggression Must be Deterred. The Age. 7 September 1964. 20 April 2017.
  7. Web site: Confrontation in Borneo. NZ History. Government of New Zealand. 20 April 2017.
  8. Web site: Malaysia–New Zealand Ties. Official Website of High Commission of Malaysia, Wellington. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. 20 April 2017.
  9. Web site: Malaysia. Auckland Chamber of Commerce. 20 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160125100616/https://www.aucklandchamber.co.nz/global/export-markets-information/asia-emerging-markets/malaysia/. 25 January 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  10. Web site: NZ and Malaysia to intensify connections . Inside Government . 17 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240617023430/https://insidegovernment.co.nz/nz-and-malaysia-to-intensify-connections/ . 17 June 2024 . 8 June 2024 . live.
  11. Web site: Govt wanted sex case diplomat to face charges - Key. Isaac Davison. The New Zealand Herald. 30 June 2014. 30 June 2014.
  12. Web site: Diplomat case: NZ asked to drop all charges. Rebecca Quilliam. Isaac Davison. The New Zealand Herald. 30 June 2014. 30 June 2014.
  13. Web site: Trade . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and . ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement (AANZFTA) . 2022-07-25 . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade . en-NZ.
  14. Web site: Trade . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and . Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) . 2022-07-25 . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade . en-NZ.
  15. Web site: Trade . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and . Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) . 2022-07-25 . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade . en-NZ.
  16. Web site: Strong reasons for Malaysia, NZ deal. Georgina Bond. New Zealand Herald. 10 March 2005. 31 December 2017.
  17. Web site: Trade . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and . NZ-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement . 2022-07-25 . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade . en-NZ.
  18. Web site: Trade . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and . NZ-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement . 2022-07-25 . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade . en-NZ.
  19. Web site: Malaysia - the ties that bind. Fiona Acheson. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. 12 July 2013. 20 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150220130210/https://www.nzte.govt.nz/en/news-and-media/blogs-and-commentary/2013/7/12/malaysia-the-ties-that-bind/. 20 February 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  20. Web site: Malaysia To Expand Collaboration With New Zealand In IT, Tourism Sectors. https://web.archive.org/web/20170419134142/http://malaysiandigest.com/frontpage/29-4-tile/670343-malaysia-to-expand-collaboration-with-new-zealand-in-it-tourism-sectors.html. usurped. 19 April 2017. Bernama. Malaysian Digest. 18 April 2017. 20 April 2017.
  21. Web site: Minister fosters stronger business and cultural links between Māori and Malaysia. Beehive.govt.nz. 13 May 2017. 31 December 2017.
  22. Web site: Envoy: Indigenous cooperation to reaffirm NZ-Sarawak ties. Ghaz Ghazali. The Borneo Post. 9 March 2019. 13 March 2019.
  23. Web site: New Zealand, Sarawak reinforce ties through education. The Borneo Post. 9 March 2019. 13 March 2019.
  24. Web site: New Zealand forces say to play leading role in Southeast Asia military exercise. Zhang Dongmiao. Xinhua News Agency. 20 April 2017. 20 April 2017.
  25. Web site: HMNZS Te Kaha Plays Key Role in Southeast Asia Exercise. New Zealand Defence Force. Scoop.co.nz. 20 April 2017. 20 April 2017.

External links

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