WHAT A CLINTON OR TRUMP PRESIDENCY WILL MEAN FOR MALAYSIA
NEW LEADERSHIP: Expert says there won’t be changes to US foreign policies
THE outcome of the United States presidential polls will place new emphasis and interest in Asian countries.
Activist and politician Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, who has served as a special adviser to the United Nations secretary-general, said this was largely because of China’s position as an emerging economic powerhouse.
“China is also beginning to assert its powers in its growing armed forces. I think the US might feel a little threatened by these developments and, therefore, will be taking a lot more interest in this part of the world.
“And the fact that Malaysia is developing such strong and friendly relations with China must count for something in terms of foreign policy,” he told the New Straits Times.
Tunku Aziz, however, said foreign policy was dictated by numerous factors, and did not lie solely on the outcome of the ballot boxes.
“A country like Malaysia is a small cog in the wheel, but we are still important to the US, considering our strategic location,” he added.
Political observer Dr Chandra Muzaffar did not believe that the occupants of the White House would have much influence in formulating such policies, as most of them were dictated by lobbyists with vested interests, either economically or politically.
Chandra contended that past and present US presidents had always relied on lobbyists for political sponsorships or support for promotion of new policies.
“If we look beyond the White House, we will realise that it will be the lobbyists who influence Washington’s policies, either domestically or internationally.
“The arms lobbyists, for example, have much weight on US war campaigns. All US presidents to date have gone to war,” said Chandra.
Globally, neither Republican candidate Donald Trump nor his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton would implement immediate changes as perceived by the world community — in relation to their opposition towards the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, which would render the plan in status quo, and China’s rise to economic supremacy.
“There will be no changes to US foreign policies. It will still be the same.
“When the world stock market was spooked by Trump’s resurgence in the sentiment polls, I believe it was due to Clinton’s close ties or rapport with Wall Street,” said Chandra.
“Trump does not have links to players in the financial district.”
In the Malaysian context, Malaysia, in its role as the “balancer between superpowers”, should have the upper hand in dictating the path of Malaysia-US bilateral relations.
“Malaysia is not heavily tilted to either side, and its role as a balancer (between US and China economic rivalry and influence) in the region is laudable (in the interest of Malaysian economy).
“With that being said, we cannot
escape the fact that Malaysia is neighbours with China.
“Malaysia-China trade has continuously spurred since the times of the Malacca sultanate. We have come a long way in forging ties with China.”