DATUK Seri Mohamad Hasan is much respected and feared by his diplomats. But beneath those cold stares and the blunt style is a warm person who listens to his officers in Wisma Putra while frequently challenging them to think outside the box.
The Foreign Minister is a man on a mission to protect and promote Malaysia’s interests in a changing global environment. He shares his thoughts on economic and geopolitical uncertainties as well as emerging threats in an exclusive interview with Sunday Star.
> The post-war order is being challenged by the actions of some states. How are these global shifts influencing Malaysia’s foreign policy choices today?
The international community is watching the tectonic shifts in the global order with great concern, and Malaysia is no exception. In a time of massive and rapid transformation such as this, we cannot simply stay the course. This is particularly important as intensifying rivalries – not only in the military domain but also in trade and investment – increasingly shrink our space to navigate geopolitical uncertainty. Against such a backdrop, Malaysia must remain adaptable and forward- thinking in shaping our position in this changing landscape.
Having said that, our foreign policy is upheld by several core values which have always guided us as we navigated the different phases of global history since the birth of our nation. These will continue to inform our global outlook.
The first of these is our status as a non-aligned country. Divisive rivalries have dominated the global discourse for many years now, but for a stable future we must leave these behind.
Malaysia believes that Asean plays an even more vital role now than ever before, as a steering wheel for self-determination for the 11 South-East Asian member states. We cannot compromise Asean’s centrality, for to do so would be to compromise our very agency in the region we call home. As I have said numerous times before, we must be the speakers and not the spoken-for.
Furthermore, Malaysia is a country that adheres to the rule of law, and we view with deep concern several issues in recent years that have greatly undermined the sanctity of international law and principles of peace and justice. These are matters that have, in part, contributed to the fragmentation of the outgoing global order: the overwhelming evidence that it has not created a just and equitable world.
On our part, Malaysia will always champion the rights of the oppressed, whether they be in Palestine or Sudan, and challenge the actions of those committing atrocities. It is our hope that as humanity seeks a new way forward, the path we lay down is anchored in a more genuine and equally shared commitment to justice.
> After two decades shaped by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s foreign policy approach, followed by successive changes in leadership, has Malaysia clearly defined its identity and direction in international affairs?
Malaysians are among the populations with the strongest sense of identity that I have ever seen. It is incredible, given our diversity and the political changes we have undergone over the years, that we have maintained such a united front to the world.
Yet it is exactly the history we’ve had, as a nation, that has shaped the strong international presence we have. While Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Dr Ismail laid the foundations of our foreign policy, including establishing what are now some of our oldest overseas friendships, as well as the foundation of Asean, 20 years under Tun Dr Mahathir’s leadership solidified some of our most important global values.
These values were later put to the test: Would they endure through several years of rapid political changes? We know by now that they have, and this is evidence of a country that knows itself well in spite of a period of soul-searching. The current government has emphasised a foreign policy that is able to continue our international commitments, as well as adapt to economic and geopolitical uncertainties and emerging threats. Our achievements as Asean Chair last year, and our success in attracting world leaders to Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, have been a collective effort between the people and the government. So yes, we are aware of our own ability to perform at the highest level, regardless of political changes and geopolitical upheaval.
> Since assuming the role of foreign minister, what impressions have you gathered from your counterparts about how they view Malaysia and what they expect from us?
The expectation set on Malay-sia is always high, and the onus is on us to live up to the impression. I believe we have been successful in maintaining consistency between our words and our actions. The previous year alone saw several successes of which we are very proud, such as making Timor Leste’s ascension to full Asean membership a reality at last.
We also played a pivotal role in mediating the conflict between two of our Asean neighbours. Aside from that, we have been one of the loudest and strongest voices in support of the rights of the citizens of Gaza and Palestine, following up on our words with tangible action and aid. Malaysia is deeply proud of what we have done in this region and beyond.
> Are there unique aspects of Malaysia – its geography, culture, or economy – that Wisma Putra can strategically harness to strengthen our foreign policy?
The African continent, in general, presents an abundance of opportunities for collaboration – something I have realised from several visits there, including to Senegal and Gambia. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar’s [Ibrahim] visit last year to Ethiopia, South Africa and Kenya, echoes these inspirations.
We share similar values and vision to empower key sectors on education, trade, and digital transformation. Malaysia has done it before with the region and I believe we can do it again. It is a whole-of-government approach among ministries to strengthen our trade numbers, to enhance people-to-people relations and to focus on education and R&D.
> Beyond Asean and Palestine, what priorities do you envision shaping Malaysia’s foreign policy in the years ahead?
We are standing at a critical juncture in which the fate of the Global South has massive potential to be reshaped.
For much of modern history, the majority of the world’s population has dominated economic production but has been left behind developmentally. Malay-sia has championed the rights and interests of the Global South for a long time and I believe the time has come for us to spearhead the beginning of a brighter new path for the world’s majority, and reduce our overdependence on countries that have not been as considerate of our needs and priorities as we would have hoped.
The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme is a prime example of how Malaysia has positioned itself as a leading Global South voice. It would benefit us greatly to begin trust and expertise-building in key sectors to strengthen ourselves and other economies that hold immense growth potential.
> During Malaysia’s chairmanship, Asean adopted the Asean Vision 2045, a long-term legacy for future generations. What steps are being taken to ensure Malaysian youth take ownership of this vision and its aspirations?
The highest priority should be to involve the youth in decision- making. Young Malaysians must be positioned as a key voice, not as a secondary and ceremonial actor. Asean youth leaders must convene, and their opinions must be implemented.
We are now living in an increasingly borderless world that this region must embrace and adapt to thrive in. While we need to maintain our sovereignty as a country, we can integrate better by enhancing tourism, education, and culture if we are to realise the 2045 vision.
> Do you believe Malaysia has done enough to raise public awareness of Asean, build support for its initiatives, and help ordinary citizens understand the tangible benefits it brings?
I believe my team at Wisma Putra has done the best we could to create the awareness, but we still need to be relentless.
While our intra-Asean trade numbers are relatively stagnant, if you look at the people-to-people movement among Asean countries – whether from the perspective of education, tourism, or employment – the potential is limitless.
The people are aware of what this region can bring and what Asean can offer, as we share a similar cultural fabric with a keen openness to learn from each other.
What we can do is to facilitate the exposure of South-East Asia to Malaysians through policy intervention and cross-agency cooperation. This region must have the willingness to reduce red tape with strong policy implementation that is embedded in trust.
