Page 6 - Diplomatic Voice 2014 Vol 1

FORUM ther with other ministries and agencies ensure that Malaysia will be at the Dr. Sufian Jusoh is a Dis- such as the Ministry of International forefront of the economic diplomacy in tinguished Fellow of IDFR, Senior Fellow and Associate Professor Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wa- global attention. We welcome the challenges such as climate change, Trade and Industry (MITI) and universi- ASEAN. Malaysia’s enhanced and at Faculty of Law, Universiti barakatuh dan Salam 1Malaysia. spotlight – the investment and deve- we see that the interests and positions ties such as Universiti Kebangsaan visible role in the economic diplomacy Kebangsaan Malaysia and also lopment it brings – but we are aware of some developing countries con- Malaysia, may extend their expertise will assist to protecting and promoting Senior External Fellow of World Trade Institute, Switzerland. It is a pleasure to open the 8th Heads that it illuminates existing stresses, verge with those of some in the deve- to build capacity for these Member Malaysia’s interests in international of Mission Conference and to share and we do not wish to become a loped world. In a more multipolar States. Capacity building programmes trade and investment in the region. with you some thoughts on the future centre for conflict by proxy. world, even the largest and most and other assistance extended to the of Malaysian Diplomacy. powerful countries will seek to form newer ASEAN Member States will Third, Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi- coalitions comprising developed and Our nation, still young by world religious and multi-cultural country. developing countries to ensure their standards, has already exerted con- We are a bridge between races, interests are promoted. siderable international influence; in nations and cultures; standing at the A Day in the Life of a Consular Officer recent years alone, we have played junction between East and West, As we saw in the middle of the last By Amir Hamzah Mohd Nasir our part in peacekeeping and peace- between the developed and the deve- century, when ideology and cultural making, in healing old divisions and loping world, between Islam and other differences are allowed to determine establishing new relationships. Credit, faiths. Our history and our geography the relationship between major It would not be an exaggeration to say angry man who storms into the office normally complete a typical day in the and thanks, belong to you - Malaysia’s mean we sit at the intersection of powers, the international order itself is that all diplomats should have a taste and insists on meeting with the Fo- life of a consular officer. However, it representatives in the world. So before some of the most important questions at risk. In this context, the way of being a consular officer at some reign Minister in seeking financial has yet to take into account the I begin, allow me to pay tribute to your of the age. Asia’s rapid development; Sino-US relations play out will have point during their diplomatic careers. assistance to help a family member “special assignments” which are record, your service, and your dedica- the relationship between Islam and profound implications not only for the The front-line nature of the job has stranded overseas. The request is of slightly more complex and tasked to tion to diplomacy. modernity; the balance between diver- region, but for the wider world. While recently escalated into a more prolific course beyond the standard operating the team from time to time, such as sity and stability. Each is being both have been at pains to assure us role in the eyes of the public. And in procedure and normal guidelines, major evacuative efforts, the hostage Over the course of your careers, that answered, in its own way, here in that their relations are founded on fact, many consular situations of late which means that the solution is to crisis of In Amenas, Algeria last year, diplomacy has been shaped by three Malaysia. Our foreign policy and our mutual cooperation, this is true only in had required the consular division and resort to the useful techniques of as well as the detained Malaysian main factors. Firstly, Malaysia is a diplomacy reflect and draw on this the broadest sense. In some cases, its officials to step outside the normal thinking on our feet and negotiation couple in Sweden. trading nation. This is set to continue: strength. there will be competition; it is how the line of duty and go the extra mile. skills. If done correctly, with the right despite a challenging external environ- inevitable tensions are managed that mixture of firmness and compassion, After being part of the consular team ment, our trade expanded by 4.6 The factors which shaped Malaysia’s matter, with commitments to friends Hostage situation involving Malay- the person would actually walk away and involved in all the works on the percent last year, and is projected to diplomacy – our dependence on trade, and allies will adding a layer of sians in a foreign land, safe evacua- feeling heard and satisfied even ground, one would never fail to realise grow at 5.2 percent this year. As our our strategic location, and our demo- complexity to Sino-US relations. tions of Malaysians from crisis-stric- though the original request was not at that the job really requires an officer, economy continues to develop – as graphics – are in turn shaped by exter- ken areas and consular situations of all all met. inter alia, to possess several key traits, we move further up the value chain, nal trends. And here the grounds Elsewhere, it seems likely that parts of types requiring our assistance are such as quick thinking, steady compo- and produce more intellectual and beneath our feet is shifting, as old West Asia will continue to be unstable, among the few assignments that one The evenings are sometimes occupied sure, mental agility and physical human capital, the goods we trade will assumptions are being overturned, pitting groups of States – as well as would find in the job description. In with inquiries and questions by major endurance. change; with the coming of regional and new ones emerging. These global different ethnic and religious groups in order to meet the challenging require- stakeholders. In the event that some economic integration, so will the and regional trends ask that we adapt the region – against others. This state ments of the job, one would need of the on-going cases capture media Being part of the team could be physi- method. But the implications for our our diplomacy to fit the pressures and of uncertainty and instability is a several key traits which include, but coverage and public attention, the cally demanding and emotionally foreign policy remain the same. Like opportunities of a new century. challenge for us, as our close are not limited to; quick thinking, team should be ready with press draining. And yet after the hours spent any trading nation, we depend on cultural, religious and economic ties to steady composure, mental agility and release(s) as a means of offering the toiling on the consular cases that open sea lanes, general peace, and Traditional global hierarchies are being the region means that developments physical endurance. ministry’s lines of response and points come in, one would retire at the end of robust institutions that promote shaken up by economic and demo- there resonate with the Malaysian of view. It really boils down to quick each day feeling fulfilled and satisfied international law and support interna- graphic change. The lines dividing public. During a typical day of a consular gathering of necessary information, that he or she has contributed towards tional norms. North from South are blurring. In officer, early morning would start with strategising of position and summari- helping fellow Malaysians abroad the routine checking of inbox and daily sing everything into a concise one- during their times of need while at the Second, we are located at the heart of news to look out for any “outlier” page press statement just in time to same time, flying the flag of the a strategically significant region, sur- which warrants special attention. As make it to the primetime news at 8.00 ministry, high and pride. rounded by current and future major the ministry’s consular counters open, pm. powers. South East Asia’s seas – there will be requests coming in by through which so much global com- Malaysian public to have a quick As the team liaises directly with all Amir Hamzah Mohd Nasir was the merce pass – are reason enough for Assistant Secretary of Consular discussion pertaining to their cases. missions overseas, its operating hours Division, Ministry of Foreign continued interest in our region. And by cases, it really means all sorts are then expected to accommodate all Affairs, Malaysia. He is currently Buoyant economic growth and natural of difficult consular situations faced by of the global time zones. This only undergoing a six-month course of resources only serve to amplify their Diploma in Public Management, at fellow Malaysians overseas some of means that night time would then be INTAN Northern Regional Campus interest, as Asia fast becomes a new which were rather unthinkable. spent catching up with our missions (INTURA) in Sungai Petani, Kedah. pole in a multipolar world. The most abroad on pending cases as well as populous region on earth will soon be On an unfortunate day, there would be anything new that has recently erup- the most prosperous; already, it is a rare case that comes in, such as an ted. The above schedule would assuming a much greater share of 6 bulletin@idfr.gov.my Running throughout these geopolitical thing to everyone. We must sharpen As others study our development developments are deeper currents of the way we conceive and execute the path, we can use our history and our technological and social change: cooperation and assistance prog- achievements to promote issues of increasing access to information, new rammes we provide at the bilateral, importance to us – such as modera- forms of citizen activism, higher regional and multilateral levels. And tion, mediation in regional disputes, expectations and greater accountabili- we must assess the impact of such and the establishment of a rules- ty in an age of information. programmes more systematically, to based approach to manage inter-state ensure they are effective and efficient. relations in the region. The challenge is It is incumbent on us – as policyma- to package this into a compelling kers, diplomats and members of the The most effective coalitions in the narrative, while at the same time international community – to respond future will be those which involve both avoiding hubris. to these changes, adapt to these the developed and developing world. trends, and to do our part to deliver a We therefore must be deft and nimble That seems an ambitious programme safer, more sustainable future for our in building and participating in coali- for a ministry with a small budget. But people. To do so, we must remain tions; seeking out those which share I am confident you can and will deliver. clear-headed in pursuit of our national our concerns, and exercising leader- Dato’ Sri Anifah’s KPI has consistently aims, even-handed in the service of ship within the shared platforms that been one of the highest, which means regional ambitions, and resolute in the are needed to tackle multilateral prob- Wisma Putra is one of the most face of global challenges. We must lems. A stronger foreign policy esta- cost-efficient ministries. I wish to com- react to the transformations around us blishment here in Malaysia, which mend you for this achievement, and to with a transformation of our own: a brings together think-tanks, academic assure you that the government is foreign policy which will see Malaysia chairs and foundations, will strengthen open to requests for additional re- through to 2020; to developed nation our hand when it comes to building sources. status and beyond. There are a coalitions for change. number things we must do. As Malaysia’s chief representatives As we prepare for a world beyond the abroad, you each have a unique role. First, we must embrace our position Millennium Development Goals, we In your hands rests the task of as one of the region’s Middle Powers: must also be ready to share our own ensuring that our Malaysia stands states which rarely act alone, but experience of development. Since the proud in the world. On past experi- which have a significant, systematic end of the Second World War, few ence, I know you will rise to this impact in a small group or through countries have made the leap from challenge. international institutions. Come 2020, developing to developed status. By Malaysia will be a developed country and large, those who have, such as Dengan lafaz Bismillahirrahmanirra- with far-flung and expanding interests. South Korea, are homogenous states. him, it is my pleasure to declare open The international community, as well When Malaysia joins the ranks of the the 8th Heads of Mission Conference. as our own public, will expect that we developed nations, our narrative will assume our share of the burden of be a compelling one indeed – a young Thank you. responsibility and leadership. As a federation, originally riven by diffe- Middle Power, that means playing a rences, working, growing and deve- greater part in Asia, and helping Asia loping together. play a greater part in the world – a subject I will say more about in weeks to come. It also means continuing our commit- ment to ASEAN. We sink or swim with our region. If we do not have an influential voice here, we will not have an influential voice anywhere. We must therefore devote adequate resources to strengthening our bilateral relations with our neighbours, and continue to value ASEAN as the fulcrum of peace, prosperity and stability in the region. Even as we undertake to do more, we must concentrate resources on initia- tives that will generate the best returns; leading in areas that concern us the most, not aiming to be every-