Neutrality Amid Bipolar World A Must Or Madness

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MP SPEAKS | Few Malaysian speeches have resonated with such profound eloquence and gravitas as the Malaysian National Statement at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
This magnum opus of a speech - credit due to those who contributed to its crafting - stands as a testament to the evolving dynamism of Malaysia on the global stage.
Representing a nation on the brink of her second take-off, set against the context of having previously been an “Asian Tiger” that fell from grace due to policy missteps and structural corruption; speculations leading up to UNGA was that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was either going to be absent or, was likely to pander to the UN “establishment players”.
Despite all that, what Anwar delivered couldn’t be further from what one would expect from a debutante. He boldly showed that Malaysia is unafraid to voice out open critiques on the very organisation he is debuting at after being “the next Malaysian prime minister” to the international circuit for more than a quarter of a century.
His opening salvo of urging members of the UN to return to the path of true multilateralism in the face of rising minilateralism purveyed by a select few superpowers was bold and scathingly en pointe - resonating the sentiments of many developing nations.
Coalition geopolitics, toxic minilateralism, or whatever label is employed, is something that Malaysia sees no meaningful advantage in participating in.
The world needs a departure from the geopolitics of binary and bipolaristic confrontations between hegemonies and superpowers.
It can even be argued that the civilisational confrontation between the East and the West, the developing vs the developed, (I will ignore conveniently the oft-cited democracy vs autocracy) requires and calls for an alternative; let hedging be the name but it is neutrality that is the essence.
A fiercely independent Malaysia
The national statement was a clarion call, a declaration that the Malaysia of this new epoch, is a fiercely independent and powerfully constructive state actor with considerable soft power that her new and current leadership is willing to exercise innovatively.
Such audacity, combined with an articulate tone of statesmanship, depth and familiarity, is emblematic of his foreign policy worldview, which is both rooted in the foundations of the UN conventions of multilateralism, as well as projecting a strategically Malaysian-centric position in priming Malaysia for Asean chairmanship in 2025.
The prime minister’s statements on global issues, from Ukraine to Palestine, Afghanistan to Myanmar, were not mere observations.
They were a reflection of Malaysia’s assertive leadership as a regional beacon leading the necessary movement of active neutrality, and the bold assumption of her rightful place as a global middle power.
A middle power that leads the way of engagement rather than isolation, disagreement without enmity, common prosperity and universal development without imposing common ideology and hegemony of imposed universality.
To understand and fully appreciate an entire genre of art manifested by an exhibition, one must look not only at the singular masterpiece by the grandmaster but the collection curated in its entirety.
The speech was, of course, the centrepiece of the trip, but there’s a lot more between the lines to be read into and much more complexities and depth that international relations analysts would have a field day over.
The foreign policy envisioned by Malaysia’s head of government can be seen and appreciated with a great deal more depth and nuances by taking a more macro view of the five-day working visit as a whole.
It was not only Anwar but the entire curated schedule in and around the UNHQ by all members of the Malaysian delegation. Just out of the ministers and ministries represented in the delegation itself provides a treasure trove of implied messaging.
Back-to-back engagements throughout the visit, whether bilaterals or group discussions, with Fortune 500 CEOs to the undergraduate diaspora, thematic mini laterals through to fellow heads of governments to leaders of governance initiatives- it was intense. But it was highly productive, and definitely fruitful in riling up a frenzy of excitement.
First-hand info
I was ordered to be part of the delegation not only as a parliamentarian but also in my capacity as a member of the Foreign Policy Consultative Council (CCFP).
The insight and clarity provided by witnessing first-hand, unadulterated by third-party interpretations, the prime minister’s foreign policy views and visions on a wide range of discussions at the highest levels is priceless.
It is an invaluable advantage and guiding compass for those involved in foreign policy review and formation, particularly at the high-level and the executive-working level; such as the CCFP.
In the intricate yet painfully disorientating, constantly spinning Viennese waltz of global politics, nations - especially developing ones - often find themselves caught between the powerful tugs of dominant forces.
As the world witnesses the ebb and flow of power dynamics, Malaysia’s stance in the geopolitical arena offers a unique perspective on navigating the treacherous waters of international relations.
It must first be stated clearly that, in the bloodthirsty spectator sport of geopolitics, where the two poles of the current Thucydidean bipolarism reign supreme; one can never win by being neutral, or heavens forbid, peddling a third way.
The bloodhounds from both camps are always at the ready to tear you to shreds, whatever you say. One simply can't and won't win. Truth hurts, they say; and the truth - or at least our truth- must be told.
Some criticised the national statement for partially echoing talking points of the Western/transatlantic moment, specifically citing the escalated language from the Malaysian Foreign Ministry line to the much harsher “unequivocal condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.
However, a closer examination of the curated high-level bilaterals with Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Iran and Thailand would debunk the misguided accusation of a Transatlantic pander.
If Malaysia were truly aligning with the Western order, it would not have participated in the China-convened high-level meeting on the cooperation outcomes of the China-led Global Development Initiative (GDI).
Furthermore, Malaysia extended offers to cooperate between the Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) under the Foreign Ministry with GDI and reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to multilateral efforts for the realisation of sustainable development goals, including through the GDI.
Between East and West
To those alleging missed opportunities for maintaining neutrality (read: not expressly and overtly pro-Western, thus being pro-China); Anwar, in an open forum with investment bankers, journalists, foreign policy, and international trade analysts, provided a well-crafted and honest rebuttal to the half-baked claim of Malaysia’s de-dollarisation efforts.
He unambiguously stated that the US remains the largest investor in Malaysia and the nation will continue to collaborate with the US to uphold and strengthen this relationship.
He further elaborated, perhaps not verbatim as follows, but in essence; if it makes economic and commercial sense for the US to derisk or decouple with China to protect American interests, why should Malaysia not address our “over and excessive” dependency on the dollar by trading in some other currencies closer to home?
After all, the strength of the dollar is a burden to the local economy. The AMF idea is but a distant concept still impossibly bridled by our overwhelming reliance on the dollar; an alternative of which is too distant to even fathom at this moment.
Recognising the profound and longstanding trade, diplomatic, and peacemaking relationships with both the US and China, the prime minister’s stance has been unwaveringly and actively neutral.
This position was artfully maintained diligently, regardless of the provocative questions, especially from American track two and three actors who were obsessively critical of China.
Implicit and explicit signs are everywhere manifesting the end of the Transatlantic unipolarity; Anwar and the Malaysian delegation acknowledged that without alienating the US and Europe.
Malaysia went out of its way to express that the US continues to be a partner of unmatched significance for Malaysia. It so happens that there are also evident signs that China's eagerness to partner, cooperate, and invest is not insignificant, and Malaysia can only welcome this wholeheartedly.
Regarding the US-China rivalry, Malaysia remains resolute in its call for peace and de-escalation.
The current trends of derisking, decoupling, off-shoring and friend-shoring present immense investment opportunities for global businesses, including those from the US into Malaysia.
If Chinese enterprises wish to engage for the same reasons, they are equally welcome.
This stance underscores Malaysia’s commitment to remain fiercely independent and actively neutral, positioning itself as a prime destination for businesses from both superpowers.
In the grand global scheme of high politics, Malaysia treads a path of pragmatic and active neutrality, recognising the opportunities and challenges that arise from the tectonic shifts of power dynamics.
As the world continues its geopolitical dances that feel more like earthquakes, Malaysia remains poised to play her part, hedging gracefully between the giants of the East and West, a friend of both and a leader among equals in the world of middle powers.
When the Thucydides Trap consumes the two geopolitical poles with madness, active neutrality is not just a necessity but a precondition and a duty to galvanise and organise together to overcome the challenges of the world - not by picking sides, but - together. - Mkini
HOWARD LEE is Ipoh Timor MP.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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