Australia–Malaysia relations explained

Filetype:svg
Mission1:Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur
Mission2:Malaysian High Commission, Canberra
Envoytitle1:High Commissioner
Envoytitle2:High Commissioner

Foreign relations exists between Australia and Malaysia. Australia has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur,[1] and Malaysia has a high commission in Canberra.[2] Both Australia and Malaysia are members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements and often participate in military exercises together.[3]

Occasional issues such as perceived Australian influence in Southeast Asian affairs,[4] as well as the detention and execution of Australian citizens in Malaysia, further complicate relations between the two nations.[5]

History

The two countries have a long-standing institutional history and more people-to-people ties than any other Asian neighbour.[6] Links between Australia and Malaysia can be traced since the 18th century, the Malays participated in the pearling industry off Australia's north coast in the 19th century where their descendants today form an integral part of Darwin’s multicultural society.[7] During World War II, Australian troops were involved in the Malayan Campaign where many of its surviving troops were captured by the Japanese Army and sent to Borneo in Batu Lintang camp and Sandakan camp where they were also forced to participate in death marches, which resulted in the deaths of many Australian prisoners of war with only six of them surviving to see the war ended and subsequent liberation of the Borneo Island by Australian reinforcements.[8] [9] [10] [11] Since then, Australian troops also involved in the Malayan War against the Communists, notably the Malayan Emergency and Second Malayan Emergency where they providing materials and equipments to Malayan security forces,[12] as well in the Malaysia's operation against the Sarawak Communist Insurgency and Indonesia's military infiltration towards its soil prior to the formation of a larger federation that includes North Borneo and Sarawak.[6] [13] [14] [15] The formal relations between the two modern countries started in 1955.[6]

Economic relations

Malaysia is Australia's 10th largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth A$19.2 billion in 2013.[16] The two countries commenced a free trade agreement in January 2013.[16] Major Australian exports to Malaysia include coal, aluminium, copper, crude oil, wheat and sugar, medication, zinc, dairy products, machinery and transport equipment, ferrous waste and scrap,[17] while major Malaysian exports to Australia including crude oil, refined petroleum, chemicals, fats and oils, computer, TVs, radios, telecom equipment and electronic integrated circuits, furniture, mattress and cushions as well machinery and transport equipment.[17]

Education relations

Australia has established three university campuses in Malaysia. Two campuses are located in Sarawak, East Malaysia: Curtin University and Swinburne University; while one is located in Selangor, West Malaysia: Monash University. Through these campuses, more than 23,000 Malaysians enrolled in Australian institutions.[18] More than 300,000 Malaysian students have also studied in Australia.[18]

Official visits

In April 2005, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made an official visit to Australia. Other Malaysian ministers undertook separate bilateral visits in the same year including the Minister of Human Resources Fong Chan Onn, Minister of Higher Education, Shafie Salleh, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Adenan Satem and Minister of Transport Chan Kong Choy.[7] The following year, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Muhyiddin Yassin visited Australia in March 2006 to remove barriers in the halal beef export trade to Malaysia with the signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural co-operation with Australiancounterpart Peter McGauran.[7] Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Syed Hamid Albar visited Australia from 1–8 June 2006 and Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz visited from 31 July–8 August 2006 to attend the 13th Australia-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee meeting and to run a series of Malaysia trade promotion seminars.[7] From the Australian side, Australia's Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, Minister for Veterans’Affairs De-Anne Kelly, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Warren Truss and Minister for Education, Science and Training Brendan Nelson undertook separate bilateral visits to Malaysia in 2005, while Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Mark Vaile visited the country in August 2005.[7] In July 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visited Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.[19] On 4 November 2012, following the visit made by Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, the two countries agreed for a joint Australia-Malaysia cultural exchange program for young Australians and Malaysians to travel to each other's countries and develop a stronger understanding of each other cultures and faiths.[20] In June 2022, Malaysian-born Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited Malaysia.[21]

Security relations

Australia and Malaysia have had a well-established tradition of military co-operation, with Australian troops has contributed significantly to Malaysia's defence since its formation.[22] As part of the alliance in Five Power Defence Arrangements, Australia plays a key role in the frequent military exercises between the countries involved.[23] [24] [25] The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) formerly operated the base RMAF Butterworth in Malaysia until the airbase management is transferred to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in 1970.[26] [27] As part of the FPDA, the RAAF still maintains a presence at this base to this date.[28]

Malaysia has expressed concerns on the AUKUS security pact between Australia, the UK and US, most recently during Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong's visit to Malaysia. Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah told reporters he communicated Malaysia's "ongoing concern" about AUKUS spurring a regional arms race.[29]

Incidents

Lynas operation in Malaysia and concerns of environment pollution

In 2011, an Australian rare-earths mining company, Lynas has expressed their intention to established a plant in Pahang, Malaysia.[30] The decision was highly opposed by local residents who were living near the proposed site for the plant together with environmentalist groups and Malaysian opposition parties who has expressed their concerns over fears of radioactive contamination.[31] [32] [33] The Himpunan Hijau (Green Assembly) was then formed in March 2011 to protesting the Lynas rare earth project in Malaysia. Despite the protest, construction of the plant continued and it was granted temporary licence by the Malaysian authorities with the plant began its operation from December for the shipment of rare earth oxides.[30] [31] Four Malaysian cabinet member of parliament (MPs) (responsible for trade, science, natural resources and health) have released a joint statement, saying the temporary licence granted to Lynas requires it to remove "all the residue" from the plant out of the country.[32] With the continuous opposition to Lynas operation in the country, several rallies has been held in Kuala Lumpur and 10 other cities in the country, as well as in 34 other countries including during the Bersih 3.0 rally held in 2012.[34] [35] In 2016, the company licence renewed for another three years with a cautious review undertaken by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) of Malaysia.[36]

Refugee swap deal

In July 2011, the two countries signed a refugee swap deal with Australia will send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia and accept 4,000 verified refugees in return from Malaysia.[37] Most of the asylum seekers are from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Sri Lanka and usually travel to Australia through Malaysia or Indonesia.[38] The deal was however rejected and declared illegal by the High Court of Australia the following month over concerns as Malaysia had no legal guarantee to protect the rights of asylum seekers especially when the country are not a signatory to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, with many evidence has shown the mistreatment of 93,600 asylum seekers in the country including caning and denial of basic rights to the refugees, who mainly come from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.[39]

Misinterpretation of Xenophon speech by a Malaysian media and subsequent entry denial to Malaysia

In 2012, Australian Senator Nick Xenophon was on a fact-finding mission to Malaysia when he was caught up in anti-government protests in Kuala Lumpur.[40] Subsequently, on 2 May 2012, the New Straits Times published an article written by journalist Roy See Wei Zhi with a title header "Observer under scrutiny". The report replaced words from a 2009 speech made by Xenophon and turned it into an attack on Islam, ostensibly to pit Malay-Muslim opinion against the senator, who was a known associate of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.[41] In fact, the speech was actually an attack on scientology with his original speech is recorded in the Hansard of the Australian Senate.[42] Xenophon threatened to sue the newspaper for defamation and as a result the offending article was quickly removed from its website.[43] The gaffe sparked media outrage in both Malaysia and Australia which has greatly reinforced public perception that the media merely serve as propaganda mouthpieces for Malaysia's ruling government of Barisan Nasional against all of its political opponents.[42]

The following year on 16 February 2013, Xenophon was detained on arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport's LCCT and refused entry by the Malaysian immigration authorities.[40] [44] He was deported back to Australia on a flight early the next day. Other members of Parliament of Australia cancelled their plans to travel to Malaysia while the matter was resolved.[45] The Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia confirmed that Xenophon was not part of the Australian delegation scheduled to meet Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nazri Aziz submitted to it by an aide to Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader in response to claims that it had deliberately denied entry to Xenophon.[46]

Detention of Australian journalists in Malaysia

Two journalists from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) were detained on 13 March 2016, after attempting to question the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak over corruption allegations towards him, notably the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.[47]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: September 2011 . Diplomatic List and List of Representatives of International Organisations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110915135637/http://www.dfat.gov.au/protocol/DiplomaticList.pdf . 15 September 2011 . 29 August 2011 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia).
  2. Web site: Official Website of High Commission of Malaysia, Canberra . 29 August 2011 . Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia.
  3. Web site: Kate Boswood . 8 August 2008 . Engaging our interests: the Five Power Defence Arrangement and its contribution to regional security . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605155454/http://www.defence.gov.au/defencemagazine/editions/200708_09/isip_fivepower.pdf . 5 June 2011 . 28 February 2018 . Department of Defence (Australia).
  4. Book: M. Rajendran. Mahathir Mohamad: Prime Minister of Malaysia. 1993. IBS Buku Sdn. Bhd.. 978-967-950-288-6.
  5. Book: Jan Melissen. Ana Mar Fernández. Consular Affairs and Diplomacy. 7 February 2011. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 978-90-04-18876-1. 48–.
  6. Web site: Australia-Malaysia relations. John Funston. New Mandala. 24 June 2013. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312101829/http://www.newmandala.org/australia-malaysia-relations-are-the-difficulties-over/. 12 March 2018. dead.
  7. Web site: [Submission No 11] Inquiry into Australia's Relationship with Malaysia]. Kate Duff. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia). 28 February 2018.
  8. Web site: The Marches. Government of Australia. Australia's War 1939–1945. 14 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170315232746/http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/behindwire/story_marches.html. 15 March 2017. dead.
  9. Web site: Borneo 1945 - An Amphibious Success Story. Nial Wheate. Gregory P. Gilbert. Royal Australian Navy. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312110047/http://www.navy.gov.au/history/feature-histories/borneo-1945-amphibious-success-story. 12 March 2018. dead.
  10. Web site: The Australian Experience of Joint and Combined Operations: Borneo 1945. International Journal of Naval History. 26 May 2016. 28 February 2018. 13. 1. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312110516/http://www.ijnhonline.org/2016/05/26/the-australian-experience-of-joint-and-combined-operations-borneo-1945/. 12 March 2018. dead.
  11. Web site: Borneo Oboe campaign – Second World War [Historical Backgrounder]]. Government of Australia. Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia). 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312113509/https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/about%20dva/media-centre/media-backgrounder/Borneo_WW2_campaign.pdf. 12 March 2018. dead.
  12. Web site: Malayan Emergency, 1950–60. Australian War Memorial. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312111513/https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/malayan-emergency. 12 March 2018. dead.
  13. Web site: Security of British Borneo [The fight against Communist terror in Sarawak]]. The Age. 20 September 1952. 28 February 2018.
  14. Book: John E. Jessup. An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Conflict and Conflict Resolution, 1945-1996. 1998. Greenwood Publishing Group. 978-0-313-28112-9. 450–.
  15. Web site: Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66. Australian War Memorial. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312112544/https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/event/indonesian-confrontation. 12 March 2018. dead.
  16. Web site: Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia). 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312095215/http://dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/mafta/Pages/malaysia-australia-fta.aspx. 12 March 2018. dead.
  17. Web site: Trade Services-Australia's Trade with Malaysia [Australia's Trade with Malaysia 2008/2009]]. Australian High Commission in Malaysia. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312100301/http://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/trade_wmsia.html. 12 March 2018. dead.
  18. Web site: Education ties with Malaysia strengthened. Australian High Commission in Malaysia. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180313071921/http://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/media_education.html. 13 March 2018. dead.
  19. Web site: Rudd meets with Malaysian PM. Lyndal Curtis. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 July 2008. 28 February 2018.
  20. Web site: Australia-Malaysia cultural exchange. Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia). 4 November 2012. 28 February 2018.
  21. News: 2022-06-30 . Australia part of Asia, minister says on visit to Malaysian birthplace . en . Reuters . 2022-06-30.
  22. Web site: History of the Australia – Malaysia Defence Relationship. Australian High Commission in Malaysia. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312124853/http://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/files/klpr/History%20of%20the%20Australia-Malaysia%20Defence%20Relationship.pdf. 12 March 2018. dead.
  23. Web site: Defence. Department of Defence (Australia). Australian High Commission in Malaysia. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312125511/http://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/Defence.html. 12 March 2018. dead.
  24. Web site: FPDA members to share intelligence to fight terrorist threats. The Star. 2 June 2017. 28 February 2018.
  25. Web site: Australia's Big Asia Military Deployment Moves to Malaysia. Prashanth Parameswaran. The Diplomat. 4 October 2017. 28 February 2018.
  26. Web site: How the Royal Australian Air Force transformed Butterworth through music. Opalyn Mok. The Malay Mail. 23 May 2015. 28 February 2018.
  27. Web site: Royal Malaysian Air Force Base [Butterworth, Malaysia] – Australian Defence Force Facilities Rationalisation]. Department of Defence (Australia). 28 February 2018.
  28. Web site: RMAF Base Butterworth. Royal Australian Air Force. 28 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312130809/https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/bases/overseas/rmaf-base-butterworth. 12 March 2018. dead.
  29. News: Murphy . Katharine . 28 June 2022 . Malaysian foreign minister says concerns remain about Aukus pact after meeting with Penny Wong . . 30 June 2022.
  30. Web site: Taking a Risk for Rare Earths. Keith Bradsher. The New York Times. 8 March 2011. 28 February 2018.
  31. Web site: Malaysians protest against rare earth refinery. Associated Press. The Guardian. 26 February 2012. 28 February 2018. 0261-3077.
  32. Web site: Malaysia orders Lynas to ship out waste. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 December 2012. 28 February 2018.
  33. Web site: Malaysia: Concerns over health & environmental impacts of Lynas rare earths mining & refinery. Business and Human Rights Resource Centre. 28 February 2018.
  34. Book: 千華數位文化. 商鼎數位出版. 洪秀菊. 大專/學術用書. 21世紀聯合國與全球治理. 29 October 2014. 千華數位文化. 978-986-144-113-9. 295–.
  35. Web site: Malaysia convoy protests Lynas rare earths plant. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 January 2013. 28 February 2018.
  36. Web site: Lynas' operating licence renewed for three years. Ong Han Sean. The Star. 3 September 2016. 28 February 2018.
  37. Web site: Australia, Malaysia sign refugee deal. Jeremy Thompson. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 July 2011. 28 February 2018.
  38. Web site: Australia and Malaysia Sign a Refugee Swap Deal. Liz Gooch. The New York Times. 25 July 2011. 28 February 2018.
  39. Web site: Australia's High Court rejects Malaysian asylum-seeker deal. Ed Davies. Amy Pyett. James Grubel. Michael Smith. Liau Y-Sing. Mark Bendeich. Ed Lane. Neil Fullick. Reuters. 31 August 2011. 28 February 2018.
  40. Web site: Malaysia detains Australia senator Nick Xenophon. BBC News. 16 February 2013. 16 February 2013.
  41. Web site: Observer under scrutiny. Roy See Wei Zhi. New Straits Times. 2 May 2012. 15 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20120502134808/http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/observer-under-scrutiny-1.79786. 2 May 2012. dead.
  42. Web site: Xenophon verballed in Malaysia. Daniel Flitton. The Age. 3 May 2012. 15 March 2016.
  43. Web site: Xenophon may sue Malaysian newspaper. Daniel Flitton. The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 May 2012. 15 March 2016.
  44. Web site: Malaysia denies entry to Australian senator. Sean Yoong. The San Diego Union-Tribune. 16 February 2013. 15 March 2016.
  45. Web site: Xenophon detained at Malaysian airport. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 February 2013. 15 March 2016.
  46. Web site: Nick Xenophon detained in Malaysia. Natalie O'Brien. The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 February 2013. 15 March 2016.
  47. Web site: ABC journalists leave Malaysia after no charges brought. Australian Associated Press. The Guardian. 15 March 2016. 15 March 2016. 0261-3077.