WikiLeaks caps 2010 diplomacy front - 2015 Info

WikiLeaks caps 2010 diplomacy front - 2015 Info

While the diplomacy scene remains hectic for Malaysia in 2010 like in recent years, the year came to a close with WikiLeaks revelations grabbing the headlines

For years, Malaysia's up-and-down relationships with its close neighbours such as Singapore and Indonesia often kept the diplomatic corps busy. But this year, it came with a difference.

Disparaging remarks made by Singapore Foreign Ministry's senior officials on Malaysia and its leadership which were exposed by WikiLeaks stunned leaders from both sides.

The cables, recorded in 2008 and 2009, revealed damning statements made about Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, India and some other Asean countries by Singapore senior officials in meetings with senior US officials.

On Dec 14, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman summoned the Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia T. Jasudasen and issued a protest note to Singapore over the disparaging remarks.

Apart from this, the major highlights included Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur ties, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's meeting with United States President Barack Obama, and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Malaysia.

The year started fine for Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta ties. The annual consultation held in Putrajaya in May which saw Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meeting with Najib opened a new chapter in the two country's bilateral ties.

Both leaders discussed many long-standing issues, including the freeze on sending Indonesian maids to Malaysia, as well as political direction in talks on the maritime boundary.

However, on Aug 26, things turned for the worst when a group called 'Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat' (Bendera) hurled faeces into the compound of the Malaysian embassy in Indonesia and burned the Malaysian flag.

The incident came after the arrest of three Indonesian maritime and fisheries officers by Malaysian marine police near Johor waters.

Indonesian maritime and fisheries officers had earlier arrested seven Malaysian fishermen whom they alleged had trespassed into Indonesian waters near Bintan island in the Riau archipelago. All the officers and fishermen were released by both sides on Aug 17.

There were even calls in Indonesia for the government to downgrade diplomatic ties with Malaysia, while on the home front, Najib condemned the incident, describing it as the work of mercenary groups.

With the Raya celebration, Najib contacted Susilo and extended Aidilfitri greetings, and they agreed to review the existing mechanisms to further strengthen bilateral ties while the prime minister stressed that Malaysia would continue to work on maintaining close relations with the republic.

WikiLeaks aside, the year 2010 witnessed major positive developments in Kuala Lumpur-Singapore ties.

During the leaders' retreat in the island republic in May between Najib and his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysia agreed to move the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) station in Tanjong Pagar to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP) by July 1, 2011.

On June 22, Lee made a one-day visit to Malaysia where both countries agreed to finalise the land swap decision within three months and to reduce their respective toll charges at the Second Link by 30%, effective Aug 1.

And during Najib's visit to the republic in September, both countries agreed to bring the outstanding issue on the development charges payable on Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) land in the city-state that will be jointly developed by both countries, to the international court for arbitration.

Ties with another close neighbour Brunei remains on the uptrend.

In December, Najib and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah witnessed the signing of the Production Sharing Agreement for the Brunei Deepwater Block CA2 between Petroleum Brunei and PETRONAS Carigali.

Other Asean countries also remain in Malaysia's diplomatic spotlight.

During the year, Najib made his first visit to Cambodia in May since taking office in 2009. In early December, he opened the new Malaysian embassy complex there, describing it as a testament to Malaysia's commitment to strengthening relations with Cambodia.

In early June, Najib made a two-day official visit to Laos, also his first as premier, thus paving the way for closer relations between the two Asean countries.

Ties between Kuala Lumpur and Washington also witnessed many positive developments. In April, Najib met Obama ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, sending clear signals of a fresh spring in relations between Malaysia and the world's sole super power.

Their first ever bilateral meeting took place in a very cordial atmosphere where both talked for 40 minutes. At the summit, Najib proposed the establishment of a United Nations convention on nuclear security.

At the second Asean-United States meeting in New York in September, chaired by Obama, Najib proposed the US-sponsored Peace Corps programme to help raise proficiency in the English language among the people of Asean countries, and Obama was instantly attracted to the Malaysian prime minister's idea.

In that same month, Najib in his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly, called for a "Global Movement of the Moderates", aimed at rallying leaders and intellectuals of the Islamic world to state their stand openly against extremism.

In November, during her visit here, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the US was co-currently endorsing Malaysia's call to promote religious moderation.

Malaysia also started to play a role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, something well-received by the US. In July and in October, members of the Malaysian Armed Forces contingent (Malcon) were deployed to the strife-torn country to serve with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

In October, Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh made a three-day official visit here to reciprocate Najib's visit in January.

During the visit, a memorandum finalising the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement was signed, and in a historic moment on Oct 27, both leaders launched "Little India", KL's Indian enclave in Brickfields.

Najib's three-day visit to India warmed up ties between the two countries. This included a historical visit to Chennai, making him the first Malaysian prime minister to make an official visit to the capital of Tamil Nadu state in India, where most of the Malaysian Indians originated.

Australia's first woman prime minister Julia Gillard visited Malaysia at the end of October where both countries stated their commitment to work together on the issues of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crimes.

Another leader who visited Malaysia was Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas.

During his stay here, Najib pledged Malaysia's commitment to provide whatever help it could, particularly in capacity building and training, as well as strong political support for the Palestinian people.

Among other foreign leaders who visited Malaysia in 2010 were President Dr Heinz Fischer of Austria, Laos President Choummaly Sayasone, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Jassim Jabr Al Thani and Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.

At the regional front, attending the 16th Asean Summit in Hanoi in April, Najib urged Asean member countries to translate all resolutions adopted by the organisation to realise the formation of the Asean Community by 2015.

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