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Asia and Oceania
Malaysia |
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| Last reviewed: 13 May 2009 |
Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Malaysia is an active player on the world stage. Its main foreign policy focus is on ASEAN. Malaysia, the past chair of NAM and of the OIC, also sees itself as a leader in the Islamic and developing world. It has made a valuable contribution to UN Peacekeeping Forces in various countries including Lebanon, Bosnia, Angola, Kuwait, Western Sahara, Liberia and East Timor and as part of the Aceh Monitoring Mission working with the EU. Malaysia runs an active programme of technical assistance from which a number of countries now benefit. Malaysia has been generous in providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by a number of recent disasters.
Malaysia's relations with the UK
UK/Malaysia relations are strong and deep - especially in the areas of trade, investment, science and innovation and education - and are expected to continue flourishing under the new Malaysian leadership. The British High Commission in Malaysia conducted a year long public diplomacy campaign in 2007, celebrating Malaysia and the UK’s 50 years of partnership, with an emphasis on the key areas of education and science and innovation. There is a steady stream of official visits in both directions.
Bilateral defence relations with the UK are traditionally strong and an important cornerstone is the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), which involves annual joint exercises with other partners (Singapore, Australia and New Zealand), triennial meetings at Defence Minister level and biennial Chiefs of Staff meetings. Other highlights include a biennial visit by The First Sea Lord in support of the Langkawi International Maritime and Air Exhibition at which the Red Arrows performed a display in 2007, and a visit by Chief of the General Staff who took the annual Malaysian Army Day salute in February 2007, the first foreign head of army to do so. The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland also performed at the first Malaysian Military Tattoo in September 2007. Malaysia continues to send some military officers to the UK for a variety of training courses and the Royal Malay Regiment spent two months on ceremonial duties in London this summer.
Cultural relations with the UK
Co-operation in the education sector is very strong. Over 11,500 Malaysian students are currently studying in UK universities (the fourth largest number of non-EU foreign students) over 30,000 are studying for UK qualifications either fully or partially delivered in Malaysia. More than 80 tertiary institutions have links with Malaysian counterparts and in 2000 a campus of the University of Nottingham was established in Semenyih, 30km South of Kuala Lumpur. Newcastle University has announced plans to open a medical faculty in Johor, and other British Universities are looking at establishing a presence in Malaysia.English is used widely throughout Malaysia, but concern about falling standards has led the government to re-introduce English as the medium of instruction for Maths and Science at primary and secondary levels. The British Council has offices and English teaching centres in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and education promotion centres in Sabah and Sarawak.
Recent Official Visits
2009
- 27 April: Dato' Mustapa Mohamed, Minister for Trade and Industry
Inward, from Malaysia:
2008
- 12 May: Dato' Seri Utama Dr Rais bin Yatim, Foreign Minister
- 7-11 June: Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister
Outward, to Malaysia:
2008
- 24-27 January: Prince Michael of Kent
- 8-9 June: Meg Munn, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs
