By Capt Martin A Sebastian RMN (R)
KUALA LUMPUR: To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia. This is the successful tag line of a song by Tourism Malaysia to woo tourists to this country which is known for its diverse cultures, cuisines, languages, races and religions. The foundations of the people of Malaysia are very unique in nature.
There have been no major conflicts among the various communities, apart from the short, dark episode way back in 1969. Malaysians are known as affable people within and away from our shores.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) will testify to that. This is duly because they have served in many parts of the world that are rife with civil conflicts. They have had first-hand experience in being the Malaysian peace ambassador model, portraying the Malaysian footprint of diversity whilst displaying high standards of morale and courage.
The international community often find it hard to stereotype Malaysians due to their diverse backgrounds.
What then are the unique internal foundations that make us who we are?
Prior to the arrival of successive western powers beginning in the 1800s and eventually independence and the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, Malaya was ruled by the sultans. In Borneo, the administration was centred around feudal lords and their respective native tribes.
The arrival of western powers changed all that. Foreign workers from India and China were brought in to work in the peninsula in the agricultural and mining industries.
Eventually, these people co-existed peacefully with the local community and thrived as a society. When the communists came in, the British issued identity cards to differentiate the locals from the communists.
Together, people from different backgrounds bonded as a community and regained peace through peace processes.
Thus, came about the peaceful transition into a plural society.
After the drafting of the Federal Constitution, the nation became a constitutional monarchy.
Then came the Federation of Malaysia with the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak from across the South China Sea. Another peaceful transition through a plebiscite conducted by the Cobbold Commission.
The new nation of Malaysia was tested by the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation.
The people of Malaysia, now united, dealt with the menace, together with the security and development operations which eventually ended in the peace process.
From both sides of the South China Sea, the citizens of Malaysia united as a nation to be the driving force towards a progressive nation.
Malaysia was the founding member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). Malaysia advocated peace in the region and the world.
On humanitarian grounds, Malaysia opened its doors to the Vietnamese refugees during the height of the Vietnamese war in the 70s. Since then, a number of refugees from conflict-ridden areas in the Philippines, Bosnia and Myanmar have called Malaysia home. Many of the refugees have returned to their respective homelands. Today, Malaysia also has a sizeable migrant workforce.
Without them realising, Malaysian society has grown into a diverse model not found anywhere in the world. It is of no surprise when a Malay speaks Tamil, a Chinese speaks Kadazan and an Iban speaks Mandarin.
Malaysians personify tolerance and acceptance and they are in fact the best global export as peace ambassadors, telling their own story in faraway lands and being instrumental in the complicated peace process.
As a diaspora, Malaysians are generally accepted as a peace-loving community overseas. Their ability to merge peacefully is founded on an aptitude centred around interpersonal skills, far surpassing other migrants.
The prowess of Malaysians can be best seen in leadership positions in multinational companies (MNCs) and at the regional stage and world bodies like the United Nations.
Malaysians have carried themselves with vigour and flair, commanding the respect of the international audience.
The ability of Malaysians as facilitators in peace processes is a testimony to the Malaysian model.
It is imperative that Malaysia recognises this unique ability of Malaysians in a more advanced way.
How about making a bid for the UN Secretary-General post when the turn of the region comes?
Malaysia’s exclusive export would be to invest in peace efforts. Perhaps Malaysia may need to enhance its role in the United Nations.
After all, we are paying a hefty sum as a member of the global organisation. More Malaysians should be well represented in the intergovernmental organisation.
Malaysians should endeavour to be part of peace processes, exporting their best Malaysian models to either lead or/and undertake the crucial tasks in the quest for lasting peace.
Malaysia’s experience in the successful KESBAN (short for ‘keselamatan dan pembangunan’ or security and development) programmes can be shared with countries coming out of conflict.
Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programmes and the Blue Ocean Strategy are viable platforms which will complement the Malaysian model in the host country. Rebuilding the broken foundations of nations should be a Malaysian speciality.
It is time, therefore, to synergise and put together all the inherent instruments of policy and power to make the Malaysian model a potent entity in enhancing Malaysia’s role as the Middle Power for Peace.
(The writer, Capt Martin A. SEBASTIAN RMN (R) is a Senior Fellow with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia. Whilst in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy, he served as Desk Officer for UN Peacekeeping Operations for three years and served a year as Deputy Chief Operations in the UN Field Mission in Morocco. He attended the UN Peacekeeping Instructor Course at the UN Staff College in Turin, Italy and later served three years in the Office of Military Affairs, Department of Peace Operations in New York as Strategic Planning Team Leader for West African peace missions. He continues to be active in the studies of Peace Operations.)
