Wisma Putra's focus for the coming year

IN LAST week's column, I explained the Foreign Ministry's five achievements from August 2021 to August 2022. Today, I outline the five focuses for the coming year, which are:

Rationalisation of the Foreign Ministry

In line with the current major challenges and with a futuristic approach, as well as with the country's new focus, the ministry in collaboration with the Public Service Department and related ministries will reorganise the Malaysian diplomatic missions abroad (to continue, to be closed or open new ones; appoint roving ambassadors, more honorary consuls) and their strength (grade of head of delegation, number of officers, assets).

Establishment of the ministry's language and culture diplomacy department

The aim is to facilitate the sharing of Malaysian cultural narratives (thoughts, practices and cultural arts) to enhance people-to-people relations and bring the local creative industries to the international stage. The objective is to highlight Malaysian national values and identity, promote the Malay language and Malaysian culture, and emphasise cultural and sports relations and exchanges. It will be implemented through the promotion and support of Malaysian arts and sports, encouraging and facilitating international educational cooperation, and liaising closely with relevant international bodies. This includes creating the position of language and culture attaché.

Nurturing subject matter experts

Current and future challenges demand that diplomacy is no longer driven by generalist diplomats, but increasingly requires field experts. The Foreign Ministry will multiply human resource development through new initiatives, for example, increasing the number of sponsorships/scholarships for ministry officers, conducting immersion programs at home and abroad, and establishing expert groups in specific fields that combine ministry officials with outside professionals.

Foreign Ministry's women's empowerment agenda

The ministry will increase the efforts on women's empowerment and gender equality by, among other things, implementing the elements of feminist foreign policy (promoting values and best practices to achieve gender equality and guaranteeing all women enjoy their rights through diplomatic relations); implementing the women, peace and security agenda (visibility, involvement in peace work/negotiations, protection and gender equality); Gender responsive budget (equal opportunities and benefits); gender balance in the appointment of Malaysian delegation heads, department and division heads, delegations, committees and forum panels; and begin to plan the appointment of women to the highest positions of KLN (for example, secretary-general and permanent representative to the UN).

Strengthening consular services

In order to improve services to the people in a more responsive, efficient, effective and user-friendly manner, the ministry is currently developing the 'e-Consular 3.0' system. Among the improvements will be the online payment module, the appointment module, the push notification module and the support module.