Ripe For The Picking 2 Choose Us Or China

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FB Salahuddin Hisham status this morning picked up on this blog's "Malaysia Day reflection: Ripe for the picking?" dated September 16, 2021. 
It relates to events unfolding with the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony J Bilken last night from Jakarta for a two day visit before moving on to Bangkok. Strangely, his arrival was not greeted by Malaysian Foreign Minister, Dato Saifuddin Abdullah. 
It caused quite a stir on the commodity market. Palm oil prices dropped from RM4,661 per tonne yesterday to RM4,466. Told by a player, it crashed by about 20% and news report it could crash further

A wrong move and China will cancel its palm oil order. Perhaps, traders recalled palm oil price unexpected crash due to short selling by American commodity houses in 2018

It fell together with the ringgit currency, Bursa Malaysia, and ringgit bonds consequent to the return of Tun Dr Mahathir to power in 2018 with Pakatan Harapan coalition. 
Should supporters request, Mahathir have expressed interest to run in the next GE15. Mahathir could find his way back to political relevence  
Politics aside, palm oil decline was anticipated due to technical reason, but geoglobal factor cannot be ignored. Blicken visit made market players recall the 2018 nightmare of Pakatan Harapan in power and Lim Guan Eng with Tony Pua destructive fiscal policy management.   
Blicken visit
Extract from Star Online report below:

United States (US) Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived here on Tuesday (Dec 14) night to begin his two-day working visit to Malaysia. The special aircraft carrying Blinken and his 39-member entourage landed at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang near here at about 10.30pm

On hand to welcome him were Foreign Affairs Ministry Chief of Protocol Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Undersecretary of the Americas division Wan Aznainizam Yusri Wan Abdul Rashid as well as US ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters

Kuala Lumpur is Blinken’s second stop in a three-country tour of South-East Asia

He was in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Monday (Dec 13) before arriving in Malaysia. He is expected to continue with his travel itinerary to Bangkok, Thailand

On Wednesday (Dec 15), Blinken will join a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah in Putrajaya before calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Parliament building later in the day

Blinken’s visit is seen significant as US moves to enhance engagement with South-East Asia and strengthen its position in the Indo-Pacific

According to Wisma Putra, the visit will provide an excellent opportunity for Malaysia and the US to further strengthen the multi-faceted cooperation and explore new joint initiatives

The United States established diplomatic ties with Malaysia in 1957 following the then Malaya's independence from Britain.
Is Malaysia not comfortable to give the usual high level diplomatic welcome to receive the US Secretary of State for fear it would anger "big brother" or "tai lor" as former Foreign Minister, Dato Hishamuddin Hussein Onn once referred to China? 
What is the specifics in the diplomacy worded "multi-faceted cooperation and new joint initiatives" in Malaysia strengthening and exploring with the US? 
More assertive US
In Jakarta yesterday, MMO reported Blicken had "urged China to cease “aggressive actions” in the Indo-Pacific". The US is asserting its influence in Asia. In an extract on the report, Blinken was reported:

“That’s why there is so much concern — from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and from the Mekong River to the Pacific Islands — about Beijing’s aggressive actions

“Claiming open seas as their own. Distorting open markets through subsidies to its state-run companies. Denying the exports or revoking deals for countries whose policies it does not agree with.”
“Countries across the region want this behaviour to change — we do too,” he said, during the speech at the University of Indonesia


Geo-strategist Dr Azmin Hasan, who makes regular appears on local and international TV, to talk on regional geo-global politics, made a humourously claim Blicken is inviting Jakarta to join Washington because Beijing is too aggressive and a bully. 
However, will it mean US will channel millitary and economic aides to Indonesia? And, will the American bearing gifts extend it to just completed 100-day Prime Minister with 90% passing mark cabinet, Dato Seri Ismail Sabri? 
Arms deal
FBer Salahuddin reminded that the day he shared this blog's Malaysia Day posting, Australia and US announced the AUKUS deal a day earlier. A military pact with the US, UK and Australia to counter China. 
Australia cancelled their US$66 billion submarine order from France and will be acquiring 8 nuclear powered submarine built with technology provided by the US.    
The US is in no mood for compromise. They imposed a series of conditions on UAE for the order of F-35 multirole stealth combat aircraft. worth US$23 billion in which UAE may cancel the order. 
One condition is to not order their 5G telecommunication system from Huawei of China. 
And, DNB is under attack from Maxis-led consortium of telcos pressuring government a second 5G network involving security risk Hua Wei system.
For the lower cost to consumer, non-duplication of capex, size of financing and reduced reliance on failed privatised telco, SWN approach offers less strain on Malaysian foreign policy. 
Weakening nationhood
This blog expressed the concern on Malaysia Day below:
In the meanwhile, the mounting worry is Malaysia has all the elements and ripe for the picking.
Its strategic value makes it attractive. While its weakening leadership and almost all aspects of nationhood is increasingly vulnerable. Will not elaborate any further but leave it for all to ponder

Actually no need to ponder for those who followed the late Bigdog's long running series entitled Lessons from Paracels in which the first part was 8 years ago. 
He had long privately advocated for Malaysia to align with the US than the unpredictable and bully China. [Al Fatihah!]
Perceived vulnerable 
Ismail Sabri will be meeting Blicken. 
His premiership is under no threat but after BN won Melaka handsomely, he seem to display  vulnerability to social media negative comments against him

They were merely venting disappointment with  Court of Appeal decision to remain with the High Court guilty judgement for Dato Najib's SRC case. 
It was Najib who upon winning Melaka, warned Ismail of plans by PPBM and PAS to push the button. After last week's UMNO Supreme Council meeting, Ismail openly opposed claims UMNO is seeking to push the button for GE15. 

The press conference by Dato Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as backbencher leader to express support for Ismail seemed awkward. He is hardly under threat but statement for support gives the impression of latent weakness. 
It will be a nervous Thursday. Pray former Defense Minister Ismail is steady should US issue an ultimatum. 
He need to cover for the ever fumbling second time Foreign Minister Saifuddin whose idea of foreign affair is human rights and employing cultural ambassadors from among popular artistes. 

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