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CHAPTER 6 : NATIONAL & FOREIGN POLICY

6.0 Introduction

Policy ?

 A definite course or method of action selected (by government, institution, group or

individual) from among alternatives and in the light of given conditions to guide and,
usually, to determine present and future decisions.
 A specific decision or set of decisions designed to carry out such a course of action.
 Such a specific decision or set of decisions together with the related actions designed
to implement them.
 A projected programme consisting of desired objectives and the means to achieve
them.
 The basic principles by which a government is guided.
 The declared objectives that a government or party seeks to achieve and preserve in
the interest of national community.

Policy , plan or programme

 The terms "policy", "plan", "programme" and "project" are progressively more
specific in time and place.
 Policies are usually national policies (not district or provincial) and are not normally
limited in time: one does not usually speak in terms of "2-year policies" as one does
of "2-year programmes" or "5-year plans".

National policy ?

“a broad course of action adopted by a federal government in pursuit of its objectives”

For instance:

 Poor Command of English

 Gender issues and education
Education  The tuition phenomenon
Mathematics and Science Studies(PPSMI)
Universities and University Act

 NATIONAL EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY

 Foreign workers: pull factors and push factors

Social Issue  Its implication (positive and negative)
 Drugs smuggling – usage of women as middle person
 Human trafficking

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 Poverty:
Urban vs Rural poverty
Economic Types of poverty (Absolute/hardcore/relative)
Strategies by government in reducing poverty

 Discuss on major economy policies:

 Discuss its main strategies, successful and failures

6.1 Malaysia Main Policies

New Development Planning

It refers to the government’s efforts to uplift society and the nation towards development and
prosperity.

 Objectives:
i. To provide a peaceful life to citizens (from both social and economic aspects)
ii. To ensure the welfare of citizens
iii. To enhance national economic growth

 Malaysian Government introduced 2 types of economic plans;

1. Short term
2. Long term

Short Term: Long Term

 refers to the Five-year Plans which  began in 1970 when the government
began in 1956 and are in effect until introduced the New Economic Policy
present time. Each plan takes 5 years and was in effect till 1990.
of implementation time. For
example: the First Malaysian Plan
was in effect from 1966 to 1970

There are 3 main economic policies that contributed to the national development plan:
i. New Economic Policy (1970-1990)
ii. National Development Plan (1990-2000)
iii. National Vision Policy (2000-2010)

i) New Economic Policy

 Introduced in 1970 and precipitated by the racial riot of 13 May 1969

 From 1971-1990 : an economic development and national unity plan
within a multiracial society
 Under Long Term Planning Framework (LTFM)
 Issue concerned :

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a) The socioeconomic gap between the Bumiputera and the non Bumiputera
b) The socioeconomic gap between the rural areas and the urban areas
c) The socioeconomic gap between the west coast states and the east coast states
d) The socioeconomic gap between the states in the Peninsular Malaysia and in Sabah
and Sarawak

Objectives Plan/Strategies

1. To reduce and subsequently eradicate a. Poverty in rural areas

poverty by increasing income and job b. Poverty in urban areas
opportunities for all citizens c. Poverty eradication according states
irrespective of race d. The provision of basic needs and the
quality of life

2. To restructure society in order to a. An increase in earnings and

reduce and eliminate racial
identification based on economic
function
reduction of poverty rates along racial
lines
b. Restructuring employment patterns
c. Reforming structure of ownership in
companies
d. Other achievements

ii) National Development Policy

Ultimate goal:

National Unity – a united community is essential in strengthening the country’s

social and political stability, and sustaining the ongoing economic development

Aim :

Enabling Malaysia to achieve the status of a developed country in all aspects

(social justice, values, ethics and moral, political stability, quality of life, the
efficacy of the government’s administration and economic excellence.

Objectives Plan/strategies

a) Eradicate poverty and restructure a) Eradicate poverty through

society
b) Introduce new economic activities
such as tourism, small industry etc.
c) Achieve the status of an advanced
nation.
development programmes.
b) Restructure society through national
unity programmes.
c) Eliminate inequality among the races
and areas.
d) Encourage privatization to increase
bumiputra participation in economy.

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iii) National Vision Policy

The new dimension introduced :

Developing Malaysia as a knowledge-based community
Generating growth driven by local resources and strengths through consolidations
Domestic investments and the development of local capabilities
Attracting continuous foreign direct investments in strategic fields
Making agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors more dynamic through the
application of higher knowledge
Eradicating poverty among small, impoverished groups in remote areas such as Orang
Asli and the Bumiputera minorities of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as increasing the
income and quality of life of groups in the lowest 30 per cent income bracket
Achieving effective Bumiputera participation and equity ownership of at least 30per
cent by 2010
Increasing Bumiputera participation in the main economic sectors
Reorienting human resource development to support the formation of a knowledge-
based community.

Objectives Plan/Strategies

a) to establish a united, progressive and a) Strengthening the manufacturing

prosperous Bangsa Malaysia.
b) to build a resilient and competitive
nation, and equitable society with the
overriding objective of National
Unity.
sector.
b) Restructuring and modernizing the
agriculture sector to be dynamic and
competitive.
c) Developing the services sector as the
main engine of growth.
d) Increasing the usage of ICT in all
sectors to increase productivity .
e) Increasing communication coverage
as well as improving access and
quality of basic infrastructure and
social services to enhance efficiency
and quality of life.

SEVEN CRITICAL THRUST

1. Building a resilient nation

2. Creating an equitable society
3. Sustaining a high economic growth
4. Facing international competition
5. Developing a knowledge-based economy
6. Strengthening human resource development
7. Pursuing environmentally sustainable development

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National Education Policy

 Based on the background of the education system in the Peninsula, Sabah & sarawak
(informal education)
 Early Stages of Education Policy
 Multi stream of Education System

Objectives Strategies

a) To set up an education system that a) The same syllabus is used in all

can fulfill the nation’s needs and
encourage cultural, social, economic
and political development (Education
Act 1961).
b) To integrate multi racial school
children and prepare a work force to
fulfill the needs of the country’s
economy.
c) To fulfill the country’s manpower
requirement as per short and long
term needs as well as produce a
society that is united, disciplined and
trained.
d) To achieve the objectives of the
National Educational Philosophy to
produce citizens who are
knowledgeable, balanced and
harmonious for peace and prosperity.
schools; the Malay language is the
main medium of interaction in all
schools and higher education
institutions.
b) All text books must be set on
Malaysian background.
c) Increase vocational and technical
education.
d) Provide Primary school education
based on the New Curriculum for
Primary Schools (KBSR) 1983.
e) Provide Secondary school education
based on the New Curriculum for
Secondary School (KBSM) 1989.
f) Setting up of Smart Schools which
kicked off in 1999 with 85 schools. It
is expected that by 2010 all schools
will adhere to the Smart School
principles.

National Philosophy of Education

“ Education in Malaysia is a continuous effort towards enhancing the potential individuals

in a holistic and integrated manner in order to create individual who are well-equipped
intellectually, spiritually and emotionally. This effort aims to produce knowledgeable, ethical
and responsible Malaysian citizens who can contribute towards the harmony and prosperity
of the community and nation.”

National Cultural Policy

 Culture is an important element in nation building process.

 The government believes that national unity can be achieved through the
formation of Malaysian culture.
 In building Malaysian culture, all parties have to set aside individual interests
and differences and focus on similarities in order to avoid conflicts.
 The government formulated the National Cultural Policy in 1971, which aims
to build national unity.

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Objectives Strategies

a) to unite the people through culture a) Development of arts and culture

b) to protect and preserve the identity of
each ethnic community in Malaysia
c) to improve the quality of life
b) Cultural programs through mass
media
c) Sharing values that can be commonly
shared.
d) Stress the history and culture of the
various ethnic communities in
Malaysia.

Main Principles:

a. To protect and maintain the Malay and indigenous culture.

b. To allow and sustain others’ culture if it is inline with the national Constitution.
c. To ensure that Islam is the main foundation/basis for the Malay culture

Look East Policy

 The look East Policy is announced by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad since 08 February
1982 during conference “5th Joint Annual Conference of MAJECA/JAMECA” in
Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
 He considered that the secret of the Japanese success and its remarkable development
lies in its labor ethics, morale, and management capability.
 He felt a programmer enabling that young Malaysians to learn in Japan would
contribute to the economic and social development of Malaysia. For this purpose,
Malaysia decided to dispatch their students to Japan, to study not only academics and
technical know-how but also to learn labor ethics and discipline of the Japanese
people.
 This policy means the government will make research, specifying and selecting
samples and byword of the best from Japan and Korean with adapting some of the
applicable values into Malaysian needs.

Objectives: Implementation :

The main objective of Look East  The programmers arranged can be

Policy is to increase the quality of
management among the workers as
well as creating a community with
good value and positive working
ethics with the aim of accelerating
Malaysians development.
Undertake research on, and involving,
Japan.
• Provide opportunities for greater
information exchange and discussion
about Japan.
• Disseminate the knowledge gained
divided into three categories, there is
change in structure, change in
behaviors, and courses and trainings.
 Change in structure is including the
use punch cards, nametags, table files,
and manual on work procedures
among workers and also
implementing counter service.
 The next programmer is change in
behaviors that the government use
implementation of clean, efficient,
and trustworthy concept, and the

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of Japan to a wider audience. establishment of Quality Control

Circle (QCC).
 The last programmer is courses and
trainings which a program such as
technical and academic studies and
intensive training for the executive
staff and entrepreneur.

6.2 Malaysian Foreign Policy

 Ministry of foreign affairs (Wisma Putra) is responsible for the Malaysian foreign
affairs.
 It is led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dato’ Anifah Aman).
 Malaysia sends representatives to other countries which have diplomatic relationship
with our country.
 This representative is known as ambassador.
 Factors that influence Malaysian foreign policy:
- National interest
- Security
- Economics
- Geography
- Demography (similarity, ex: religion, culture etc)
- International organizations

 Malaysia joined several international organisations, which can be divided into two
categories - regional and world.

Regional World

 ASA  COMMANWEALTH (ex British

 MAPHILINDO (1963) colonial group)
 ASEAN (1968-present)  UNITED NATIONS
 NAM (Non Alliance Movement)
 OIC (Organization of Islamic
Conferences)
 G15 (Developing Countries
Organization)
 APEC (Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation)


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National Foreign Policy

The Foreign Policy of Malaysia has passed through many distinct phases since the birth of the
nation on 31st August 1957. In Malaysia’s infancy, under the leadership of Malaysia’s first
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al - Haj, the country was
confronted with various security, political as well as economic challenges both domestic and
regional.

Vision :
To safeguard Malaysia’s national interests
as well as contribute towards a just and
equitable community of nations
through proactive diplomacy

Mission :
 Uphold the country’s sovereignty and promote universal peace
 Foster friendly relations with foreign countries
 Develop and protect Malaysia’s interests in the regional and international arena
 Ensure the safety and interests of Malaysians abroad
 Extend excellent and efficient services to the Ministry’s stakeholders both locally and
abroad

The Six Strategic Objectives

1. Safeguarding and Protecting National Sovereignty in the International Arena;

2. Strengthening Bilateral Diplomacy;

3. Strengthening Multilateral Diplomacy;

4. Strengthening ASEAN;

5. Improving and Strengthening the Institution and Human Capital; and

6. Information Dissemination and Enculturing Diplomacy.

6.3 The evolution of Malaysian’s Foreign Policy

1. During the administration of the first Prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, he is
adopting more pro-west foreign policy. Other than that, he was also focusing with
Commonwealth relations, anti-communist strategies and regional relations. Tunku is
maintaining close relations with Britain as Malaya’s former colonial power and with the
western countries. Among the development of foreign policies in his era were:

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a. Malaya signed Aglo-Malaya Defence Agreement (AMDA) which ahs steered it away
from any involvement in any western alliance system especially with the US and US
led South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO)
b. In 1964, Malaysia was voted in as a non-permanent member of the Security Council
in the United Nations (UN)
c. In 1970, Malaysia was admitted into the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM),
Southeast Asia (ASA) in 1960 and later known as ASEAN in 1967.
d. Also active in MAPHILINDO and OIC
e. The bilateral relationship with Indonesia was not in a good situation as confrontation
exists during the President Soekarno’s administration and ended in May 1966 resulted
with remedial cooperation under General Soeharto’s administration.

2. Tun Abdul Razak shifted Malaysia’s foreign policy towards non-alignment, neutrality
and equidistance. The relations with super-powers are irrespective of ideology. In 1971, Tun
Abdul Razak further reinforces the principle of neutrality through the adoption of the
Declaration of Zone, Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) for Southeast Asia. It was
also during his tenure that Malaysia is having a diplomatic ties with China on 31 st may 1974
as to complacent the domestic policy of racial integration and nation building strategy post
13th May 1969 tragedy. The neutrality act can be regarded as an initiative on balancing
Malaysia’s foreign policy.

3. Next, Tun Hussein Onn did not change or bring major shift in Malaysia’s foreign policy.
As third Prime Minister, he sustained the earlier policies and did not embark on any new
initiatives. He was strengthening he regional cooperation particularly with ASEAN.

4. Dr. Mahathir made Malaysia’s Foreign Policy more assertive, practical, independent and
active and widens the scope to include Africa and Latin America. The platform used was
through South-South Cooperation (G15), the South Commission and Developing 8 (D8). He
also announced the “Buy British Last” campaign and Look East Policy. Dr.Mahathir also
critical among the Muslims nation being his condemnatory comments towards Israel.

5. Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during his tenure is using several principles on Malaysia’s
Foreign Policy. The foreign policy during his tenure is a dynamic, pragmatic, credible,
consistent and enlightened. The foreign policy according to him must takes care of the people
of Malaysian above all else and to make Malaysia an acceptable and reliable partner in inter-
state affairs. His foreign policy is less confrontational.

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6. Dato’Seri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak as the sixth Malaysian Prime Minister has
forwarding the elements of moderation in the foreign policy. In regards of the bilateral
literation, Malaysia is renewing its focus on both China and United States. From the aspect of
trade and investments, Malaysia has expanded its cooperation with Middle east, Africa and
Latin America. However, the cornerstone of Malaysia’s foreign policy is still centered on the
relationship of its traditional partners specifically ASEAN, Europe, Japan, South Korea and
India.

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