GROUP 7 - Malaysia (LCASEAN Z53)

Sanchez, Darren
Santor, Arianne
Sayat, Mary Destrine
Sebastian, Alyssa Winslet

I. Introduction

Malaysia, and Capital

Malaysia is one of the countries located in South East Asia. It is composed of East
Malaysia (Malaysia Timur), which is on the island of Borneo, and Peninsular Malaysia
(Semenanjung Malaysia), sometimes known as West Malaysia (Malaysia Barat), which is on the
Malay Peninsula.

The country’s capital is Kuala Lumpur which translates to a “muddy confluence”. It is the
country’s largest urban area and its cultural, commercial, and transportation center. Kuala
Lumpur has undergone rapid development in recent decades and is home to the tallest twin
buildings in the world, the Petronas Towers, which have since become an iconic symbol of
Malaysian development.

Government

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial head of state—a

monarch—who is chosen from nine hereditary state rulers for a five-year term and goes by the
title Yang di-Pertuan Agong ("paramount ruler"). Currently, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin
Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah has reigned
as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and the 6th Sultan of Pahang since January 2019.

A prime minister is chosen by the supreme monarch from among the House of
Representatives members. The monarch then picks the remaining cabinet ministers on the prime
minister's recommendation. The number of ministers is flexible, but they are all required to be
federal parliamentarians. An impartial civil service and an independent judiciary are also features
of the federal government. The current Prime Minister is Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim
who took oath last 2022.

Flag
 The name of the national flag is Jalur Gemilang meaning 'Stripes of Excellence (or
Glory)'. It has 14 red and white stripes representing the 13 member states plus the Federal
Government. The 14-point star called Bintang Persekutuan, or Federal Star, represents unity
between the 13 states and the Federal Government. The crescent represents Islam, the official
religion. Blue represents the unity of the Malaysian people and yellow is the royal color of the
Malay rulers.

People

The three major ethnic groups are Malay, Chinese, and Indian. There are numerous
smaller indigenous groups in rural peninsular Malaysia and in the Borneo states. Together the
native Malay and non-Malay indigenous groups are known as Bumiputera— sons of the soil.

The majority population of Malaysia is Malay, but Malays only make up about 50.4
percent of the population. Despite representing only half of Malaysia’s population, the Malays
retain political power and benefit from numerous affirmative action policies. Chinese make up
approximately twenty-four percent of the population. Originally, Chinese immigrants made their
way to Malaysia for economic opportunity, and today, they still represent a significant economic
force. Chinese schools are considered the most academically rigorous in Malaysia, and Chinese
Malaysians are most likely to aspire to higher education.

The smallest significant ethnic group in Malaysia is Indian. Indians originally came from
southern India to work as indentured servants on rubber plantations. They now represent
approximately seven percent of the population and tend to be laborers, although there is also a
professional class of Indian doctors, lawyers, and other professions. Many Indian Malaysians
often live in urban enclaves and struggle to maintain their culture in the face of modernization
and Islamization. The non-Malay Bumiputera people of Malaysia make up eleven percent of the
population. The majority of this group resides in Sarawak and Sabah—the Borneo states. Among
these groups are Iban, Melanau, and Bidayu.

About Malaysia

a. National Dish

In Malaysia, Nasi Lemak is considered their national dish. It is typically served with
boiled eggs, anchovies, cucumbers, peanuts, and rice cooked in coconut milk. The recipe is
completed with the addition of sambal, a hot chili paste. While it was initially created as a
breakfast food, it quickly outgrew its intended use and developed into the all-day national cuisine
of Malaysia. During the 1980s, when this farmer's supper grew into a dish that is widely served
by Malaysian street sellers, the popularity of nasi lemak steadily increased. Its development
resulted from the simple requirement to utilize all components that were available.

Throughout time, the meal evolved into a comfort food favorite for most Malaysians.
Because to its widespread appeal, nasi lemak is now frequently served with chicken, fried fish,
fried eggs, or even curry on the side. It is often wrapped in banana leaves and served hot.

b. National Drink

When it comes to drinks, Malaysia has a unique national drink that is made with
creativity and hard work. Malaysians love Teh Tarik, a straightforward yet flavorful milk tea. Teh
tarik is drank throughout the day in Kopi tiams, Indian Muslim Mamak restaurants, and coffee
shops from supper till morning. Teh Tarik, where Teh is tea and Tarik is drawn, is translated as
"pulled tea." Its preparation for pulling is an artistic performance, which gives it its name.
Without ever losing a drop, the tea is poured as high as possible from one pitcher to another. The
pulling action is what gives teh tarik its foamy, airy texture. Also, it enhances the flavor and
effectively blends the tea and condensed milk. Teh tarik is a staple of Malaysian local culture and
is honored by the government as a significant component of Malaysia's culinary heritage. Teh
tarik is a staple of Malaysian local culture and is honored by the government as a significant
component of Malaysia's culinary heritage.

c. Language

Malay, also known as Bahasa Malaysia, is Malaysia's official language and is spoken by
more than 80% of the country's population. There are 10 distinct varieties of this language
spoken throughout the nation. The most prominent and extensively used dialect is Bahasa
Indonesia, which is popular in the southern Malay Peninsula. Not to mention that Malaysia's
national song is written in Malay as well. English, along with Malay, is one of the most widely
spoken languages in Malaysia. It is widely utilized as a medium of education, communication,
and in government offices. All of the exams offered here are in British English. While
Traditional Chinese, i.e. Mandarin and its Malaysian dialect are classified as Malaysian Chinese
and are spoken by a sizable portion of the country's population. Almost 93% of Chinese
households in Kuala Lumpur not only speak Mandarin, but also some of its modified dialects.
Although Mandarin is widely used by Chinese in Malaysia, Hokkien is the most often spoken
dialect.

d. UNESCO Sites in Malaysia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are locations that have been designated as important for
their natural and cultural heritage. Malaysia now has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
including archaeological treasures, luscious jungles, and heritage cities. Archaeological Heritage
of the Lenggong Valley, Melaka and George Town, Ancient Cities of the Malacca Straits,
Gunung Mulu National Park, and Kinabalu Park are among the prominent UNESCO heritage
sites.

e. Malaysia Folk Dance and other Culture

Malaysia is a country that is multi-racial, multi-religious, and multi-cultural. Malaysian

culture has been impacted by neighboring nations, resulting in a diversity of dance art categories.
Malays, Aboriginals, and ethnic minorities have unique and attractive dances. Moreover, the
Chinese, Indians, and Portuguese who settled in Malaya expanded the Malaysian dance tradition.

Joget is Malaysia's most popular traditional dance. Joget started as a Portuguese folk
dance and spread to Malacca during the Malacca Dynasty's spice trading period. Is usually
performed during parties and social gatherings. This dance is quite similar to Cha Cha, whether
in terms of dancing moves or music. It is a fast-paced dance that must be done by partnered
dancers with quick hand and foot motions. It's a vibrant and upbeat dance. Almost all of the
traditional Malay ladies in the countryside are Joget master dancers.

Aside from this, Malaysia is riched in unique culture such as everyone drinking milo,
prohibition of shoes inside the house, eating with your bare right hand, and public display of
affection is not encouraged as this can cause you to be arrested.

II. ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

As a pioneering part of ASEAN, Malaysia turned into a vital piece of its monetary
collaboration initiatives. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the most recent
development, was established in 2015. In 1992, Malaysia became a member of the ASEAN Free
Trade Area (AFTA) and referred to the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT).

By following the AEC drive, ASEAN Member States have set out on expanding their
network inside the region. Several plans are in progress for associating the nations with
widened broadband coverage, with better railway lines and highways. Malaysia has made
significant progress in these areas, although logistical coordination and ownership remain well
behind that of Singapore. The ASEAN Plan of Action in Transport and
Communications, which contains 45 projects, is being implemented by ASEAN member states
under the Integrated Implementation Program

Trade Liberalization
 Although the AEC’s main focus has been on promoting investment and commerce, it also
includes efforts to combine a variety of foundations to improve growth and provide the
conditions for the establishment of a more egalitarian regional area.

Malaysia was a member of the ASEAN Industrial Complementation Scheme (1981),

which led to the adoption of the Brand Wise Complementation Scheme in 1988. The two
initiatives were designed to enhance mechanical complementarities among ASEAN enterprises
by focusing on the automotive industry. The programs encourage auto brand owners to take
advantage of size-of-production economies by legitimizing and specializing manufacturing
units by allowing the trading of authorized automobile components and segments for
certain vehicle brand models.

Malaysia was also a recipient of the ASEAN Industrial Joint Venture Scheme, which
began in 1983 and was amended in 1987. Through market sharing activities and resource
pooling, the initiative aimed to increase regional investment and boost industrial
manufacturing. Products originating from the plan were provided a 90 percent inclination
margin on the most popular country rates, and adjacent substance accreditation was given, if
applicable, to the enterprises in the participating importing nations.

When AFTA was established in 1992, Malaysia became an essential member. The
primary mechanism of the CEPT Scheme is tariff progression across ASEAN. As addressed,
Malaysia is among the nations that have followed the progression method. Malaysia has
eliminated duties on 98.74 per cent of its tariff lines in our ATIGA Tariff Schedules for 2016. We
now only have 73 tariff lines or less than 1 per cent (0.59 percent) that have import duties
ranging from 5% to 20% covering tropical fruits, tobacco and highly sensitive products (rice
products) . Malaysia has placed 82 Tariff Lines (TLs) which comprise of alcoholic beverages and
arms weapons in the General Exclusion List (GEL). These products are not subject to import
duties reduction or elimination. With the reduction and elimination of the import duties,
producers/manufacturers can afford to buy raw materials at a cheaper price and better quality
from ASEAN countries. This would lead to the reduction in costs of production due to the
elimination and reduction in tariff. As a result, prices of the finished products will be more
competitive not only within ASEAN Member States but with other countries as well. With a
larger scale of production and 625 million ASEAN populations, it provides broader market
access to producers/manufacturers.

Malaysia was a signatory to the ASEAN Agreement on Customs and the Ministerial
Understanding on Finance Cooperation. The former lays the groundwork for bolstering
financial partnerships. This agreement aimed to enhance combined efforts to combat
smuggling, better coordinate customs control actions, promote mutual technical assistance,
update customs systems, and improve customs skills.

Malaysia is a member of the ASEAN Senior Finance Officials Meeting, which was
established to assist ASEAN finance ministers in smoothing out the region’s monetary flows.
This body has unequivocally empowered insurance controllers, capital business sectors, and
national bank specialists to set up a gathering for reinforcing collaboration in the financial area.

RCI / Regional Cooperation and Integration is a process by which national economies

become more interconnected regionally. To promote such cooperation, Malaysia invoked the idea
of a regional free trade zone in 1990, the East Asia Economic Group (EAEG). The objectives of
EAEG were to boost economic cooperation, to promote and defend free trade, accelerate
economic growth, introduce open regionalisms, and contribute to multilateral trading systems.

Malaysia is one of the few ASEAN countries that have pushed most strongly for
initiatives to enhance intra-regional economic cooperation. It has launched the idea of ‘AEC
2025’, which builds upon ASEAN’s earlier idea of a ‘single market and production base’ and
extends it further to include sustainable economic development. Although AEC 2025 does not
promote any bold ideas, it provides evidence for ASEAN’s willingness for continuity with its
regional initiative, especially during the time of increased geo-political and economic
vulnerability in the global economy.

III. ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)

To build on what has been constructed over the years in the field of political and security
cooperation, the ASEAN Leaders have agreed to establish the ASEAN Political-Security
Community or APSC.

The APSC aims to ensure that countries in the region live at peace with one another and
with the world in a just and democratic environment. Its purposes include the following. First, to
accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through
joint efforts in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a
prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asia. Its aim is also to promote regional peace
and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among
countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

It is envisaged that the ASEAN Political-Security Community by 2025 shall be a united,

inclusive and resilient community where the ASEAN people shall live in a safe, harmonious and
secure environment, embrace the values of tolerance and moderation as well as uphold ASEAN
fundamental principles, shared values and norms. It is further envisaged that ASEAN shall
remain cohesive, responsive and relevant in addressing challenges to regional peace and security
as well as play a central role in shaping the evolving regional architecture, while deepening our
engagement with external parties and contributing collectively to global peace, security and
stability.

ASEAN, even when formed under dubious circumstances, has become a body of great
economic importance and has fulfilled its perceived objectives to a great extent. Malaysia has
been largely influenced by ASEAN and has effectively influenced several policies of ASEAN as
well. Several humanitarian initiatives have made Malaysia an important factor affecting
international politics. The cooperation assistance has also benefited Malaysia, in terms of
finance & international recognition. However, a lot is yet to be achieved. Significantly, Malaysia
being a trading country is intensely dependent on its accomplices at the global stage.

Relevantly, APSC is one of the ASEAN Community’s three pillars – economy, political-
security and socio-culture. The full implementation of this is expected to bring about prosperity
in the region and protect the interests and wellbeing of ASEAN people. As the APSC Blueprint
seeks to mainly achieve an enhancement in political stability, democracy and good governance
through creating a just, democratic and harmonious environment, human rights are expectedly
apparent. Respect for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is
also identified as one of the main elements in enhancing political development.

The APSC has the following key characteristics: (i) A rules-based, people-oriented,
people-centred community bound by fundamental principles, shared values and norms, in which
people enjoy human rights, fundamental freedoms and social justice, while embracing the values
of tolerance and moderation, and sharing a strong sense of togetherness and common identity;
(ii) A resilient community in a peaceful, secure and stable region, with enhanced capacity to
respond effectively and in a timely manner to challenges for the common good of ASEAN, in
accordance with the principle of comprehensive security; (iii) An outward-looking community
that deepens cooperation with external parties, upholds and strengthens ASEAN centrality in the
evolving regional architecture, and plays a responsible and constructive role globally based on an
ASEAN common platform on international issues; and lastly, (iv) A community with
strengthened institutional capacity through improved ASEAN work processes and coordination,
increased effectiveness and efficiency in the work of all ASEAN Organizations

In realizing its goals, ASEAN Political-Security Community would strengthen its

institutional capacity and presence. This will be pursued through streamlining ASEAN work
processes, increasing effectiveness, efficiency and coordination in the work of ASEAN Organs
and Bodies, strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat, and increasing ASEAN institutional presence
at the national, regional and international levels.
 IV. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC)

Moving on to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), It is all about realizing

the full potential of ASEAN citizens as it works to create a sustainable community where it
promotes a high quality of life for a committed and socially responsible community. A
community that pushes for social development and environmental protection.

In order to achieve these goals, the members of ASEAN cooperate on a wide range of
areas such as Culture and Arts, Information and Media, Education, Youth, Sports, Social Welfare
and Development, Gender, Rights of Women and Children, Rural Development and Poverty
Eradication, Labour, Civil Service, Environment, Haze, Disaster Management and Humanitarian
Assistance and Health. Many issues that they face are human capital development, social
protection, pandemic response, humanitarian assistance, green jobs, and circular economy.

The reason why they created 2 platforms is to help mitigate these issues which are the
ASCC Council, which are supported by the Senior Officials Meeting on the ASCC (SOCA). The
purpose of the ASCC Council is to ensure that decisions of the ASEAN Summit related to the
ASCC pillar are implemented and the other platform which is the Coordinating Conference on
the ASCC (SOC-COM).

The Malaysian Foreign Policy has been described as neutral, non-aligned, and
independent because of how they remain dedicated to peace and stability that supports
regionalism and the ASEAN way while still being flexible.

V. The Applicability of the ASEAN Way in Malaysia

The ASEAN Way is a guiding philosophy that defines the attitude of Southeast Asian
member states toward conflict resolution. It places a strong focus on consultation and
consensus-building, which spurred the development of various types of political cooperation
later on.

One of the core principles of ASEAN Way involves the ‘principle of non-interference’.
Should one or a few member nations disagree with the proposals put forth during the ASEAN
meetings, the organization must postpone the decision-making for future settlement.

The main purpose of this cautious approach is to provide adequate time for
considerations and prevent the outbreak and escalation of tensions. Therefore, regional stability
can be maintained.
 Surprisingly, the ASEAN Way was influenced by Malay culture, as seen by musjawarah
(consultation) and muafakat (consensus-building). This technique entails a progressive
decision-making process in which all member nations must be consulted before the regional
organization can reach an agreement on the best course of action to adopt.

As a founding member of the ASEAN, Malaysia has been effective in persuading

ASEAN participants to uphold the neutrality concept and implement important agreements such
as the Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and
the initiative of the East Asian Economic Caucus (which was finalized as ASEAN+3) through
the ASEAN Way. Malaysia found an effective platform for developing relations with China and
the United States and created an opportunity for ASEAN members to discuss disputes at an
institutional platform.

According to noted international relations expert Amitav Acharya, Asean's greatest issues
are internal rather than external. And in order for ASEAN to continue defying expectations and
make a name for itself on the international scene, it must rely on its actual strength - its innate
togetherness.

Its strength is best expressed in Malay by the phrase muafakat. The phrase loosely
translates to agreement and collaboration. Nonetheless, it is frequently utilized in the context of
decision-making inside societal systems. With the global uncertainties that lie ahead, "Asean
muafakat" has become a more important component in both Malaysia's foreign policy and the
region's strategic security goals. In many aspects, this accurately portrays Asean as a civilization
of nations with shared historical, cultural, and linguistic links. Furthermore, members are
working long-term toward this common Asean community goal.

Malaysia is a trade nation that relies greatly on its overseas partners. As a result, it is
critical that the image we create worldwide is not associated with any one country, especially
given the region's contest for supremacy between the US and China.

The ASEAN way has been effective in bringing peace, fostering relationships, and
productive in dealing with other issues with the 10-nation bloc, however, one of its founding
fathers, Malaysia had been considering changing the ASEAN way because constructive
engagement has not been working according to Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim. For the
Prime Minister of Malaysia, the ASEAN way must be taken a new lease of life to address its
internal conflicts in a much more progressive way towards development because it has been
considered a hindrance to few countries in the ASEAN due to its principle of non-interference
which results to the slow development and inaction of the ASEAN towards conflicts. A very
relevant and timely example is the crisis in Myanmar. Malaysia Prime Minister Ismail Sabri
Yaakob expressed his disappointment that there is no meaningful progress in the implementation
of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus, especially by the Myanmar junta. He also added that with
the current form, the ASEAN Five Point Consensus cannot continue any longer.

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