Deep in diplomacy

THERE has been a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months, much of this felt by road users in Kuala Lumpur.

Indeed, friends have asked me why there’s been so much traffic in town, often accompanied by videos of police outriders escorting cars with fluttering flags zipping past and frustrated messages about being late as a result – cue the mutterings about whether such courtesies are necessary – but it’s not every year that Malaysia gets to be the Asean Chair.