Malaysia returns to the global stage

The rest of the world has reason to admire us again. But let’s keep doing better with governance or risk sliding back to the bad old days.

I JUST had an epiphany. I realised that in the past two weeks, I have met more Malaysian politicians in London than I had in my years living in Malaysia and Australia combined.

Of course, the results of our recent general election were the talk of many and allowed for a ‘fresh’ look at our country’s relationship with the world. Indubitably, the fact that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad returned to power democratically intrigued the world. Which other nation changed governments so peacefully and brought back a former prime minister who is now the world’s oldest PM?

Malaysia Boleh, indeed. With the current goings-on in pre-Brexit Britain, it comes as no surprise that there are efforts to strengthen our diplomatic ties and trade relationships that have no doubt resulted in London recently experiencing an influx of Malaysian politicians.

I attended a dialogue organised by Kelab Bunga Raya London, where Dr Mahathir delivered a speech and engaged with students studying here. I also watched recordings of Dr Mahathir speaking at the Chatham House and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS), and his interview by Zeinab Bedawi on BBC’s HARDtalk.

What ‘got’ me as well was Dr Mahathir’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York – a trip he did in between his London dates. I can’t help but snigger at the sarcasm directed at the United States, and that from the PM of a small, developing country.

There is no doubt that Malaysia ‘has returned’ to the global stage in a positive light, and as a Malaysian, I am proud to see how the perceptions toward my country have changed for the better. However, there are some points in Dr Mahathir’s responses and speeches that I respectfully disagree with.

Firstly, I disagree with his characterising any aspect of human rights as a “Western concept”. When asked by a fellow Chevening scholar whether the new government would uphold human rights, his consistent answer was “Malaysia will never support same-sex marriage” as it was a Western concept.

I find this answer problematic. It baffles me why a politician and statesman of such high calibre still conflicts upholding human rights with same-sex marriage.

In a country that has yet to ban child marriage, marriage equality is not even on the cards. All that human rights advocates are asking for is that there be no violation of fundamental human rights – for there to be no discrimination, oppression and violence towards women, indigenous people, LGBTQ+ individuals, stateless persons and refugees.

Lest we forget, we saw two women caned in Terengganu recently and a third was sentenced late last month to six strokes of the rotan.

We also continue to fail our children. We marry off daughters when we can no longer afford their basic needs and education.

There are still systemic problems within our Islamic family laws that not only violate CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) by continuing to rule that female genital mutilation is necessary within Islam, but also by allowing men to evade providing alimony following a divorce.

We do not question the justice and fairness required to allow men to enter into polygamous marriages. Instead, we see cases of men being entitled to do so – causing family breakdowns, and in a recent case, sexual grooming and child marriage.

These are the issues being highlighted in Malaysia, not same-sex marriage.

Secondly, BBC’s Zeinab Bedawi questioned Dr Mahathir on reverse brain drain, stating that a number of Malaysians, especially those of Chinese ethnicity, have voted with their feet.

While Dr Mahathir’s response during the interview was sardonic, he also encouraged Malaysian students at the event in London to return home, stating that our loyalty should be with Malaysia.

Yet, I can’t help but feel anxious whether only certain Malaysians can return home. What about LGBTQ+ Malaysians who are engineers, scientists or aspiring politicians? Will they be welcomed home, too?

In his OCIS speech, Dr Mahathir said, “Muslims run away from their countries (as they) find that non-Muslim countries provide better protection and security for them. But their own Muslim countries are violent, unstable and oppressive.

“Muslims need to understand that power given to the Ruler is given to him not to be used for his own self, but actually for the country and the people.”

Such profound words, and yet I fear that this lesson may not be learnt, especially by Dr Mahathir’s successors, and there may be the risk of Malaysia regressing in the near future.

I am proud that Malaysia aims to reclaim the term ‘Asian Tiger’ at the global stage. Yet, this cannot be achieved with our eyes closed and the real issues at hand ignored. It is our responsibility to keep our government in check and ensure that speeches delivered overseas are not merely words, but result in meaningful implementation.