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"We should work for a more visible Malaysia-India relationship"

P.S. Suryanarayana

Malaysia's Foreign MinisterSyed Hamid Albaron the prospects for better bilateral ties. Excerpts from an interview at his office in Putra Jaya, prior to his planned visit to India this week:

— FILE PHOTO: AP

Syed Hamid Albar: "Malaysia should gain very much by focussing on what we could do with India in third countries."

There is no politically resonant word to describe Malaysia-India ties. Are you now looking for strategic partnership with India?

At the political level, we share a lot of common views. There is that bond [since Malaysia's independence in 1957]. We always look at India for providing leadership [in various international fora]. Maybe, India, at one stage, was too focussed on its domestic issues to look beyond. Now, [India] is an emerging economy as well as a superpower. I do not see any reason why Malaysia and India should be seen not to be close.

People of Indian origin or even the Indian workers have contributed a lot to our economic well-being. As we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with India, we should move forward. Strategic alliance could be established. At the Cabinet level, there is always a special interest [in] India.

Would you really describe that as a special relationship?

India is very strategically located to provide the necessary umbrella as a big country. We can benefit from India's economic growth. On many issues, say [in the] World Trade Organisation, we move with India.

[Malaysia-India] trade, in 2006, was $5.7 billion, an increase of 21.59 per cent from the previous year. There is an enhanced relationship. At present, you see the presence of more Malaysian companies in India, especially on the infrastructure side — Hyderabad [international airport], quite a number of highways. There is a synergistic relationship. Malaysia should gain very much by focussing on what we could do with India in third countries even. Indian companies are no longer [just] national companies. [India] has got its own brand; it is a global player.

So, as you see it, the missing link in the relationship between Malaysia and India is not so much the actual fact on the ground as the perception of people on both sides.

Yeah. You will see a visible shift in the relationship between India and countries like Malaysia and the [East Asian] region as a whole. So, we should work for a more visible relationship.

Maybe, because of the Indian Diaspora in Malaysia, there is that tendency to think that, in some ways, they are not well treated in some areas. Which is far from the truth, if you look at the facts and figures. Then [there are the Indian] workers here or the professionals here. Sometimes, there is a problem, and this problem is highlighted to the extent as if it is the way that we have conducted our bilateral relations. Which is not true.

Inter-state relations go through good or bad phases or indifferent times. Perhaps we had indifferent times and now we are entering a good phase.

India is now more settled politically to be a player that makes a difference. Why do people feel excited about today's relationship between Malaysia and India? Because, [Prime Ministers] Manmohan [Singh] and Abdullah Badawi get along well. There seems to be good chemistry between them. I have two words to describe Malaysia-India relations: very close and friendly.

On the trade side, India is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). And, it is a difficult negotiation [co-chaired by India and Malaysia]. [Yet] when we are doing things with India, we feel that we are not dealing with an alien or a stranger. In the early stage of our independence, for example, a lot of our teachers were from India. These are stories that are not told. Maybe, these are things that do not sell newspapers.

What is the update on the proposed comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA)?

We agreed, when the Prime Ministers met, to enter into a comprehensive economic partnership. Then we formed a study group. The study has been completed. Now, we have to start negotiations. There is no question of getting another mandate [from the Joint Commission meeting in New Delhi on February 16] to start [these talks].

What is the likelihood of a defence cooperation agreement?

When we bought MiG-29s long ago, we wanted to share the technology with India, because India has got a big fleet, the technology, training, the equipment. But somehow or other, we went back to the Russians. But, now, [with] Sukhoi [being purchased by Malaysia], there is the same talk. I do not see why there should not be an elevation of [the defence] relationship between India and Malaysia. [It] will be to our benefit, if we could get both sides to look at some of the possibilities like joint exercises. Malaysia does very few joint exercises on a bilateral basis.

Multilaterally, have you invited India to participate in maritime security projects, as far as the Straits of Malacca are concerned, including the `Eye in the Sky' surveillance programme?

[The ball] is in India's court. Because, we [the littoral states of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore] do not invite. There must be a show of interest and a willingness to indicate to us what type of cooperation could be offered. We are willing to cooperate with anybody, so long as there is respect for our sovereignty and our rights to the area. [Cost-sharing] is something that India could take the initiative for discussing with the littoral states like Malaysia.

Another issue in Malaysia-India ties is the move to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on how to organise cooperation on labour-related issues. Is the MoU likely to be signed any time soon or will it be part of the CECA process?

To avoid exploitation or workers being unjustly treated and wrongly informed of the [job] opportunity, [one way] is to go through the agents acceptable to both sides. India has been asking for an MoU for a long time. At the initial stage, we saw that the taking of labour should not be governed by MoU. It is a question of demand and where labour is available. But, since countries like India have been talking to us, we have looked at it. We have not raised an objection to the signing of an MoU. Our draft is ready. Our side would have to send our draft, from where the negotiations can begin.

Is there an element of balancing China and India through the East Asia Summit process?

Whether India is a countervailing force, so to speak, so far as Malaysia is concerned, we do not look at it that way. But it is something that maybe thought of by other countries. Because, the only power that can compete with the United States, that has got the potential to compete with the U.S., is seen as China. [And] now that India is emerging, to exclude India [from East Asia] may not be strategically right.

What is Malaysia's updated position on whether India can be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council?

India should be one of the countries that should be considered. [The] veto is very archaic, reflects [a] very totalitarian principle. But if it is still needed, there must be safeguards.

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"We should work for a more visible Malaysia-India relationship"

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