SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

APLN member Elina Noor wrote about Malaysia’s strategies amid US-China competition, underlining that Malaysia is perfectly capable of securing its interests without choosing one side over another.

Anwar’s announcement of Malaysia’s intention to join the expanded Brics grouping ahead of Li’s visit provided more fodder for speculation about China’s gravitational pull. To view Malaysia’s interest in this reductive manner, however, is to fundamentally misunderstand the country’s long-standing investment in multilateralism as well as its interest in engaging multiple instruments for different reasons. Remember that Malaysia negotiated its participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) alongside the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It ratified both RCEP and the TPP’s successor, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, in the same year.

Similarly, Malaysia’s application for Brics membership will take place as it continues engaging in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. It will also assume chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year while pursuing diplomatic, security and military cooperation in various configurations with a wide range of partners.

At a time when the status quo no longer adequately reflects the desires of the global majority, it only makes sense for Malaysia to seek a more active role in different forums to secure its interests. Contrary to what some might believe, it is possible to walk and chew gum at the same time.

The original article can be accessed here.

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