Country Profile
From The Report: Malaysia 2012
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Split between Peninsular Malaysia and the island of Borneo, Malaysia has a diverse population of 29m, mainly ethnic Malays, Chinese and Indians. Bahasa Malayu is the official national language, but Indian and Chinese languages are spoken by their respective native communities, and English is widely used even beyond the business community. Malaysia, which gained real independence in 1957, is a federated constitutional monarchy that delegates considerable autonomy to states, with special status for Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo. The current head of government is Prime Minister Najib Razak of the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has ruled since the country’s founding, although opposition party Pakatan Rakyat looks competitive in upcoming elections.
This chapter contains interviews with Mohamed Mahathir, former Prime Minister of Malaysia; William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary; Sebastian Pinera, President of Chile; Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, Deputy Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade of Brazil; and Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
Articles from this Chapter
Diversity of cultures and resources: This multi-ethnic nation is home to a constantly evolving economy
One nation, two parts: A unique federal structure allows both local and central decision-makingOBGplus
As the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak gears up for fresh general elections due before June 2013, Malaysia can look back on over five decades of progress since independence in 1957. The country has since moved on from its early years of nation-building in the wake of colonial rule and the Cold War conflict to an economy and polity very much based at the forefront of modern Asia. Now, Malaysia can look forward to developed nation status by 2020, with the decade ahead likely to see…
OBG talks to Former Prime Minister Mahathir MohamadOBGplus
Interview: Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad What has been the private sector’s response to the economic goals set out in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), and how is investment in the domestic economy being encouraged? MAHATHIR MOHAMAD: The initial response was solid, but now we are finding that other ASEAN countries have also begun to implement similar policy goals and offer investment opportunities over the past three years. As a result, foreign direct investment (FDI), although…
The ASEAN cornerstone: Regional integration is entering a critical phaseOBGplus
The government has long sought to deepen the country’s links with its neighbours, as well as with the wider Asia-Pacific community. The country became a founding member of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) with this goal in mind – and ASEAN has gone from strength to strength ever since. Now, the association is facing some of its toughest challenges, both economic and political. While moving towards a single market in 2015, ASEAN also faces complex geopolitical and security…
William Hague, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on UK-ASEAN relations in the 21st centuryOBGplus
Today the idea of the “developed West and developing rest” is all but irrelevant. The world has changed and so must the UK if we are to prevent our role and influence in international affairs from declining. Key to this will be making the most of opportunities presented by a new international paradigm in which economic power and influence is moving east and south. We are doing this by shifting our diplomatic weight to reflect these changes and by building our relationships with emerging powers.…
William Hague, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on UK-ASEAN relations in the 21st centuryOBGplus
Today the idea of the “developed West and developing rest” is all but irrelevant. The world has changed and so must the UK if we are to prevent our role and influence in international affairs from declining. Key to this will be making the most of opportunities presented by a new international paradigm in which economic power and influence is moving east and south. We are doing this by shifting our diplomatic weight to reflect these changes and by building our relationships with emerging powers.…
Across the oceans: The country’s international influence is on the riseOBGplus
While the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains the cornerstone of foreign policy, Malaysia has long been engaged in other bilateral and multilateral alliances, pacts, agreements and treaties. These now place it in a truly global web of security, economic and cultural connections. DIVERSITY & PERFORMANCE: Since taking office in 2009, the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak has put a new emphasis on foreign policy, starting with the concepts enshrined in the Government…
A preferential relationship: Ties between the country and the UK remain solidOBGplus
When the UK’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge touched down in Kuala Lumpur in September 2012, the warm greeting they received from Malaysia’s public and politicians spoke volumes of the continuing strength of ties between the two nations. The royal couple’s visit also marked the high point of a year of British official visits to Malaysia, begun with Prime Minister David Cameron’s trip in April 2012 – the first by a British prime minister since 1993. Nine months previous to that, Malaysian…
OBG talks to Alessandro Texeira, Brazil’s Deputy Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign TradeOBGplus
Interview: Alessandro Texeira There are signs of emerging markets decoupling from developed economies. Will economies such as Brazil’s be more immune to external shocks? ALESSANDRO TEXEIRA: I would not call it “decoupling” as such. The crisis has increased the necessity and speed at which these economies are becoming more autonomous, but it is not a consequence of the crisis. We are seeing a shift in economic power and production. In 2012, for instance, we expect that 51% of global GDP will…
OBG talks to Alessandro Texeira, Brazil’s Deputy Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign TradeOBGplus
Interview: Alessandro Texeira There are signs of emerging markets decoupling from developed economies. Will economies such as Brazil’s be more immune to external shocks? ALESSANDRO TEXEIRA: I would not call it “decoupling” as such. The crisis has increased the necessity and speed at which these economies are becoming more autonomous, but it is not a consequence of the crisis. We are seeing a shift in economic power and production. In 2012, for instance, we expect that 51% of global GDP will…
OBG talks to Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEANOBGplus
Interview: Surin Pitsuwan How can ASEAN countries work together to position the region as a leading tourism destination? SURIN PITSUWAN: The ASEAN countries all have tremendous potential for attracting tourists, and recognise that combining their individual efforts will multiply the opportunities and benefits for the whole region as well as for each country. ASEAN has been implementing a number of regional initiatives to promote the region as a tourism destination. These include developing multiple-country…
OBG talks to Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General, ASEANOBGplus
Interview: Surin Pitsuwan How can ASEAN countries work together to position the region as a leading tourism destination? SURIN PITSUWAN: The ASEAN countries all have tremendous potential for attracting tourists, and recognise that combining their individual efforts will multiply the opportunities and benefits for the whole region as well as for each country. ASEAN has been implementing a number of regional initiatives to promote the region as a tourism destination. These include developing multiple-country…
