Umno Needs Strong Foreign Relations

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SOMEONE asked me about the importance of good relations between UMNO and other political parties with the Diplomatic Corp in the country since they don't really contribute to strengthening them institutionally and financially.

Another even disputed the role of diplomatic officers appointed by respective parties to keep up with good relations with the diplomatic missions irrespective in political, cultural, economic, education and other disciplines.

My answer is simple - who will recognise your organisation worldwide and come to your aid when requested?

UMNO under Mahathir's foreign policy (1981-2003) was described as independent, active and pragmatic. Two decades of Mahathir’s leadership have resulted in Malaysia becoming more internationally recognised as a model of stable, multicultural and developing country with a relatively impressive economy.

His South-South Commission, for instance has placed the country well on the world diplomacy map. Malaysia was also regarded as an exemplary progressive and moderate Islamic country.

While the importance of trade and investment was evident as the basis of Malaysia’s external ties with many countries (including the Commonwealth of Independence States – CIS), other factors which included religion (Islam) in the context of multiculturalism also became significant determinants.

In effect, UMNO has made Malaysia’s international image, undoubtedly, been promoted and enhanced by many of the innovative policy initiatives. The whole world (maybe) knew about Malaysia and UMNO by then.

However, foreign policy under Abdullah Badawi was rather lacklustre due to preoccupation with domestic challenges such as intra-UMNO/BN bickering (including the MCA) and the growing influence of the Opposition coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim.

Despite the lack of focus, Pak Lah succeeded in thawing relations with Singapore, and Malaysia attracted the attention of the US as a progressive Islamic nation with the Islam Hadhari brand.

To those who belittle such diplomatic roles are not fit to be in the circle of high ranking party bearers.

UMNO was an international brand and must become one again after the crushing defeat in the 14th general elections. And it was the diplomatic game played by the Pakatan Harapan internationally that led to the downfall.

I remember the minute after the 13th general election in 2015, the Opposition notably DAP and PKR embarked on massive 'adverse disposition program' of UMNO and Barisan Nasional government. Using foreign media and their diplomatic connection had resulted in some damages to the country's image abroad.
Under Najib Razak as the party president and prime minister, UMNO was politically and diplomatically tarnished by their lies and slanders that attributed to general election bashing. The party, in my observation had then failed to put its nose at the most destructive issue - 1MDB.
The PH government cunningly applied its diplomatic cohesiveness in retrieving whatever amount of money from some countries, notably the US and Singapore. It was a defined political rapport that had helped them to vindicate BN and UMNO as the most corrupt party.
Now UMNO is under the stewardship of Zahid Hamidi. As some good connections were lost after GE14, the party seemed to be left out of the Diplomatic Corp it had established for over 60 years in power.
Of course UMNO nhad never asked for financial assistance from any country and international organisation unlike a few parties but its relations with esteemed world bodies like the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Asean, the United Nations (UN) and others must be observed carefully since UMNO is now 'part' of the government.
Now, tell me if this relations is not important!
Yes, foreign relations did play a little role in Malaysian political life a couple of years ago. But Zahid as the former deputy premier and Home Minister has cemented relations with many countries on issues of international diplomacy like ASEAN and the Rohingya crisis, relations with the EU and the US or even ‘hard’ security issues such as counter terrorism and ISIS, or the South China Sea territorial disputes.

So, are we and UMNO gonna just put all that to waste?

In January 2005, I attended a UN-organised conference in Hong Kong which, among all, discussed the increasingly important role party politics play in foreign policy-making in East Asia, and the constraints foreign policy factors are imposing on party politics in some countries in the region.

Participants attributed variations among nations to differences in the institutionalisation and strength of political parties and governmental institutions; electoral systems and constitutional structure; degree of political polarization or cleavages in society; and external political constraints.

China was made a role model for its globally widespread political detente, only to leave the US and Russia second and third respectively. China took the front seat in the early 1990s when the Communist Party embarked on a massive diplomatic plan with the rest of the world.

Now, UMNO needs to take charge again. I don't know when but foreign relations should always be a priority - as the government and as an Opposition. Do you realise that the opposite news usually captures world attention?

I enjoy this topic but this is enough...

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