| While Prime Minister
Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has been quite
vocal about his country’s opposition to the war
in Iraq, U.S.-Malaysia security cooperation remains
strong. Malaysia’s most recent efforts in working
with the U.S. to preserve international security--signing
on to the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and
establishing a counter-terrorism center--have been
instrumental in curbing terrorism and maintaining
peace in the region.
“Terrorism can never be justified under any circumstances,”
says Mahathir. “Malaysia has zero tolerance to
both terrorists and terrorism.”
Malaysia and the U.S. share many common values among
which are strong commitments to democratic principles
like religious tolerance and equality among its citizens.
Although the two countries may have opposing views
on the war, political ties have not been altered.
“The fact that we have different views should
not be read as being anti-U.S.,” says Foreign
Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. “Malaysia
strongly believes in the democratic process. Disagreement
is normal and does not sever relationships.”
“We have very positive relations,” he continues.
“The different positions should not affect existing
good relations.”
Malaysia may not always share the United States’
views, but “relationships are not based on a
single issue or a single international crisis.”
“The U.S. should be able to view us as a nation
that is principled and reliable in bilateral relations,”
says Syed. “We would like to build on areas where
we agree.”
Efforts to facilitate trade through the CSI and in
quelling the activities of suspected terrorists based
in the Southeast Asian region are “based on mutual
interest and mutual benefits,” he explains.
Under the CSI, high-risk containers are identified
and screened by U.S. Customs officials for bombs and
weapons of mass destruction prior to embarking for
U.S. ports. The result is that there is less chance
pre-screened containers will require screening once
they reach the U.S., thereby facilitating smoother
and more efficient trade of goods.
The CSI program was originally proposed to 20 of the
largest ports around the world. Although Malaysia
falls just under number 20, it was anxious to join.
“They accepted as soon as we proposed it to them,”
says Marie T. Huhtala, U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.
Malaysia became a signatory to the CSI program in
January 2003.
Two of Malaysia’s major ports, Port Klang and
Port of Tanjung Pelepas, will participate. A second
mobile container X-ray scanning machine was installed
at Port Klang in February.
U.S. Customs officials are currently talking to their
Malaysian counterparts on technical matters. A pilot
program is expected within three to six months.
“Their implementation is underway, and they’re
doing a very good job,” says Huhtala. “Malaysia
has become one of the best and most reliable partners
we have in this whole region on the issue of counter-terrorism
cooperation.”
Malaysia continues to view terrorists as a mutual
threat. “The September 11 attacks have brought
awareness that the battle against terrorism is going
to be a long one,” explains Malaysian Ambassador
to the U.S., Dato’ Ghazzali Sheikh Abdul Khalid,
“the success of which could only be assured if
there is close cooperation by the international community.”
After the September 11 attacks, armed guards were
deployed around the American Embassy, not at the behest
of the American government, explains Huhtala, but
at the Malaysian government’s own initiative.
Early last year, Malaysian authorities were quick
to crack down on the activities of a suspected Al-Qaeda
cell operating in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur. This
cell is believed to have been a link in the pan-Asian
network Jemaah Islamiyyah (JI). Numerous terrorists
and militias with international links have been arrested
under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act.
“We have been successful so far [in dealing with
terrorists] and we believe we can successfully handle
future problems. In fact, we think that we can be
of help in dealing with modern terrorism elsewhere,”
said Mahathir in a February 2002 address to the Asia
Society in New York.
Similar terrorist threats, and subsequent fears over
an emergence of cross-border extremist activities
throughout Southeast Asia, led many Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to formalize
a pact designed to create an intelligence-sharing
security network.
When President Bush met Prime Minister Mahathir in
Washington last May, Bush stated, “I have been
looking forward to this visit to publicly thank the
Prime Minister for his strong support in the war against
terror.” Malaysia and the U.S. signed a bilateral
declaration of Cooperation to Combat International
Terrorism in May 2002.
In July 2002, the U.S. signed a similar agreement
with all 10 ASEAN nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, and Vietnam).
After the signing of these agreements, President Bush
proposed that Malaysia take the lead in hosting an
ASEAN training center to direct regional activities
to counter terrorist activities.
“It will be a very useful center for providing
training to countries all over Southeast Asia on various
aspects of counter-terrorism,” says Huhtala.
“We see this as tremendously constructive.”
Malaysian officials confirm that they have chosen
a site for the center and are currently assembling
staff.
More recently, Malaysian officials have been helpful
in the Bali bombing investigation. U.S. officials
characterize Malaysia as “forthcoming” with
pertinent information.
Malaysia and the U.S. share long-standing political
and security-related ties, significantly pre-dating
September 11, 2001.
U.S. and Malaysian forces have cooperated on numerous
international missions and frequently engage in joint
training initiatives. Malaysian and U.S. Air Force
members benefit from joint flight exercises, and U.S.
troops conduct jungle-warfare training in Malaysia.
In Somalia in 1993, over 100 Malaysian peacekeeping
forces under United Nations’ auspices spent over
100,000 rounds of ammunition attempting to rescue
the U.S. Army Rangers trapped in Mogadishu, an example
of the unsung heroics that were omitted from the liberation
scenes in the movie Black Hawk Down. The forces were
later honored by the Pentagon for their valiant efforts.
Malaysia has participated in more than 20 United Nations
missions since the 1960s.
Malaysia has consistently been a leader in the Southeast
Asian region in promoting regional cooperation. Malaysia
has sent troops to protect neighboring countries from
suspected terrorists, instructed neighbors on how
to freeze terrorist assets, and is highly instrumental
in maintaining the security of international waters
in the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea.
“We believe in a multi-lateral approach as a
way to resolve international conflicts,” says
Syed. “In an inter-dependent world, we need each
other.” |
