Page 3 - Diplomatic Voice 2014 Vol 1

PROFILE OF PROMINENT PERSON Q. Malaysia believes that Islamic states international circuit, playing by the “Foreign policy is always a work in organic knowledge of the countries should become moderate rather than rules. As such the country was seen as progress as there are too many they are posted in. It is essential to extremist. In your view, can this respectable and consistent in its learn the local language, to access approach create better relations with foreign policy. It would be good to external unpredictable variables local media, and to constantly be on other countries, including the resume such a stand today, particular- that intervene in daily affairs, and the ground to keep abreast of local Islamic states? ly when we see the rise of new powers issues and concerns. Knowing a that seem inclined to throw their it is necessary for a country like country is like knowing a person: You A. If, by ‘moderate’ you mean being weight and project their power. Malaysia to have such an institu- can’t get to know someone through non-aggressive and non-violent, then tion that can prepare its foreign sms-es or internet, you need to meet there is nothing contentious about Q. How do you see IDFR and the role it the person face-to-face, to invest such a goal and it should be the goal plays in contributing to Malaysia’s ofce and diplomatic corps, to time, to listen to the other. Only then of all states. However, the term ‘mode- foreign policy? alert them to new variables and does real knowledge of the other ration’ is also a contested one and we emerge. Anything less would be have seen how the term has been A. An institution like IDFR would be contingencies such as the latest cosmetic and superficial. For starters, used by different states with different crucial to the development of a diplo- advances in communications I think all diplomatic staff should be agendas. If ‘moderation’ is to signify matic corps that is clued up about made to spend several months in acquiescence to the agendas of developments that are overtaking so technology, communicative homestays in the countries they are powerful states, where weaker states many countries today. Foreign policy infrastructure, etc.” posted to, in order to see the human are meant to blindly accept terms and is always a work in progress as there aspect of the society on the ordinary, conditions that are non-negotiable, are too many external unpredictable catch up with changes in the world mundane level. then it is simply a by-word for hege- variables that intervene in daily affairs, around us. IDFR needs to take on mony and domination. I see nothing and it is necessary for a country like board all these concerns: coping with Dr. Farish Ahmad-Noor moderate about that. Nelson Mandela Malaysia to have such an institution new technologies, the latest theories is Associate Professor at the S. Rajaratnam was not moderate in his resistance to that can prepare its foreign office and of comprehensive security and de- School of International Apartheid, and he did not compromise diplomatic corps, to alert them to new fence, etc. to prepare Malaysia for common purpose and destiny. At Malaysians take for granted that they Studies RSIS, NTU in his struggle – for that he was bran- variables and contingencies such as the new age we live in. present, the trend in most Muslim ‘know’ Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, University and Visiting Fellow at ISIS-Malaysia. ded a radical. If opposing such blatant the latest advances in communica- countries is to ‘nationalise’ Islam and etc. just because they happen to be He has researched and cases of injustice leads a country to tions technology, communicative Q. Malaysia has incorporated Islamic make it a national political concern. next door to Malaysia. This is utter lectured at several other institutions includ- being labelled ‘non-cooperative’ or infrastructure, etc. We live in a world institutions and is now a prime exam- Thus, religion just becomes an nonsense. Most Malaysians do not ing Sciences-Po and the School of Ad- vanced Social Studies (EHESS) Paris; the even ‘radical’, then I think it is a choice where the very notion of the singular ple. Do you think this notion should be appendage to the state, a means of even speak a word of Thai, do not read International Institute for the Study of Islam that has to be made, on the basis of nation-state is being questioned and spread across Islamic states in order regime-maintenance and regime-per- Indonesian newspapers, etc. My in the Modern World (ISIM) Leiden, Holland principles. We need to be clear about challenged on a daily basis. Unless to stress unity? petuation. But here is where some biggest disappointment is that young and the Centre for Modern Orient Studies this because the international domain and until we fully appreciate the political elites in the Muslim world do Malaysians today would rather learn (ZMO), Berlin. He continues to lecture at two Indonesian Universities: Universitas Islam is not one where nation-states co- impact of globalisation – how it effec- A. Institutions alone do not foster not realise that they are also in danger the history of America or Europe, and Negara Sunan Kalijaga (UIN) Jogjakarta and exist on a level playing field, and tively renders borders irrelevant for unity, and unity only comes about of undermining themselves: For if not be bothered to learn the history of Universitas Muhamadiyah Surakarta (UMS). where power-differentials exist. Not instance – we will always be trying to when there is an understanding of our Islam can be used by the state as a Indonesia. As long as this state of addressing those inequalities is not discourse of legitimation, then it can ignorance exists, we will continue to being ‘moderate’, it is simply being also be used by radical anti-state live apart from our neighbours, and subservient. groups as a discourse of delegitima- ASEAN will remain a distant concept tion. Hence, the conflict we see in so that does not impact on the lives of Q. What is your vision for Malaysia in many Muslim countries where people. This is a problem that I see in terms of foreign relations and what Muslims kill other Muslims, in the other countries like Singapore, changes would you propose to name of religion. Thailand and Indonesia too. It is the enhance Malaysia’s foreign policy? result of an inward-looking education Q. Throughout your career, you would system in all these countries, and the A. Malaysia’s foreign policy and pre- have probably encountered numerous writing of postcolonial history that sence in the international domain was challenges. What was the biggest does not lay enough emphasis on our at its height during the 1980s-1990s, challenge you have had to overcome common historical past as a region. when Malaysia took a stand on issues and how has that affected your life like Palestine, Apartheid, etc. During today? Q. What advice would you give to that period, Malaysia was seen as a current and future Malaysian diplomats IDFR would like to express its country with a stand of its own, and A. The biggest challenge I face until in order to strengthen the bond and appreciation to Professor Dr. did not bow down to foreign pressure. today is to convince Malaysians of the relations with the country they are Farish Ahmad-Noor, Distinguished Malaysia has never had expansionist importance of our neighbouring coun- assigned to? Fellow of IDFR, for agreeing to be territorial ambitions, and has always tries and why we need to know and featured in the Diplomatic Voice. been a consistent player in the understand our neighbours better. A. To develop local, ground-level DIPLOMATIC VOICE 3