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• TextDefence PolicyExternal relations...1 more

  Malaysia's foreign and defence policy (1957-1967)

  The study of National Foreign Policies has maintained a sustained interest among the scholars of international relation even after some attention has shifted to the study on non-national and supra national actors. Despite the discipline's continued emphasis on foreign policy analysis, the policies of the third world countries have not received the attention commensurate with their growing importance in world politics.
  
  Little had been written on Tunku Abdul Rahman and his Foreign Policies between the period of 1957 to 1967. However the Malaysian Foreign Policy during Tunku Abdul Rahman period can be understood in term of a decision making by the Prime Ministers himself and the few who were comprising on of five men and he rally discussed them with the cabinet. The five were Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Dr. Ismail, Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie, Tun Tan Siew Sin and Tun Sambanthan. Most of the consensus view which includes economic growth which act as a key to political stability, anti-communism, Anglophilia and support for International Organizations.
  
  Tunku used to discuss with Tun Razak, Tun Dr. Ismail during the free time and during informal contacts. This had become the source of decision making during Tunku's time. Malaysian Foreign Policy at that particular time was pro-west. Political elite at that time was pro-west who were trained from the United Kingdom, and the British who were the one trained them and then the British handed over the country in 1957. The other strong indication was that the Malays was really a disciplined character who always obey orders either from their political leaders of the Malay Sultanate. The Malays was the most dominant group at that particular time who works as a peasant. Traditionally the Malays are very friendly to the British and other races. The Chinese was the immigrant from the China who came to work in the mining industry. The Indian was brought into Malaya because the mining industry really require them to work as workers. As they arrived, the plural society was arise.
  
  After independence Malaya was having a friendly relation with the British. This is due to the Chinese who has the different lifestyles and attitude were among who were suspected to be friendly with the CPM who were getting the support from mainland of China. Realizing about the strategic importance the Malayan government had the negotiation with the British, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore to form up SEATO and later led to the formation of AMDA.