Two Lucky Countries

I deemed myself half a temporary citizen of Australia once since it was the Aussie government who paid me my monthly salary for some 12X12 months. I served as a Journalist-Press Officer at the Australian High Commission -- starting from the time of Russ Properjohn, to end with Chris Freeman, the former who taught me diplomacy, focus and practicality, and the latter dedication, commitment and friendship. Two fantastic blokes!

The mission is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and also treats Malaysians working there very well, and the pay packages remain among the top three of all the foreign missions based in Kuala Lumpur. I am proud that the Administration sincerely supported the formation of a Locally-Engaged Staff (LES) Committee initiated by me, and I went on to serve as its chairman for the first two years. (Was it a pleasant surprise that after I had left the mission for some five years that the head of mission invited me back to attend a LES general meeting, but certain commitments then prevented my attendance.)

The 12 years also saw some testing times when there were changes to the First Secretary (Information) who I answered to as my immediate superior, every three years. As with the peoples of all countries, we encounter a whole range of personalities -- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Yes, we have our share of Ugly Malaysians -- witness the rash of road rage incidents, with some fatalities lately?

On the other hand, the majority of Malaysian rakyat are friendly, even generous and hospitable to foreigners to a fault! I also add that the majority of Aussies are fair-dinkum and laid-back people, who don't mind you calling 'em bast...., really! Of course, in both communities there are also the occasional"racists" who make their cameo appearances, sometimes urged on by misguided politicians and other fanatics.

So Australia-Malaysia relations had had seen some troughs breaking out in a pattern of three-yearly cycle, my considered observation. It's often not due to the peoples of both countries, or to the business communities -- it's chiefly the politicians who would not let placid waters stay. So like a broken record, diplomats on both sides would scramble to bring the ships back on even keel after the government leaders had let off steam with unguarded words and posturings of one-upmanship. When you had strong personalities like then Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Mr Paul Keating around, it was hardly a surprise that relations occasionally went on a "roller-coaster" ride. Even before this week, it is common perception that relations between Malaysia and Australia remain "luke-warm".

Just recalling here some outstanding spats that led to the "luke-warm" state of affairs:

* Australian protesting against Malaysia's "shoo-ing" (or was it shooting?) (away) Vietnamese refugees from off Terengganu shores, with many then heading for Down Under;

*Australian leaders labelling the hanging to death in July 1986 of Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers for drug-trafficking convictions as "barbaric";

* Malaysians protesting the reduction in Aussie government's subsidies for overseas tertiary students, resulting in the Malaysian students there paying more in tuition fees;

* Malaysia protesting the purported "deputy sheriff" role unilaterally assumed by Australia (to the chief, United States of America, who else?) very recently, still lingering as a sore point, and quite inconsonant with Australia's expressed wish to identify itself as part of the Asian region, but seen to be an US proxy (in much of foreign affairs).

Well, a lot of waves had been stirred and much muddied water has flowed under the bridges between the two countries -- it's a case of a relationship that could have yielded much, much more, if only they had concentrated on the "strong, traditional links established in the education, trade and tourism" fields, and had not allowed politics to get much in the way.

A new era begins

However, it's still better late than never! Am I glad to read that finally, a Malaysian Prime Minister has made time to visit Australia, after more than two long decades of absence by a Malaysian head of government to do so. It is to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's credit, and it also had a lot to do with an attribute he honed from his early days serving as Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The two countries in the last two days of meetings have highlighted the common grounds -- in education, bilateral trade and investments, and people-to-people interactions through tourism and cultural exchanges -- that these two countries had shared dating back to Malaysia's independence in 1957. Pak Lah addressed top Australian leaders and corporate heads, and visited scientific and education institutions. Even the usually brash Aussie media failed to bait the two leaders into commenting much on the "thorny" issues still on the negotiating table.

And this is a good development for both countries. Almost without doubt Australia has been acknowledged as the Lucky Country in this region, blessed with vast natural resources much of which still remains untapped. Equally, Malaysians, despite their public complaints of dissatisfaction over many things, like to tell visitors, especially the G'Day mates from Down Under that we also think Malaysia is a damned Lucky Country -- no gigantic natural disasters like earthquakes (am I saying this too soon with last December 26's Tsunami visit and therefore this viewpoint needs revising?), volcanoes and floods. Well, maybe sometimes we need a few jolts to remind us we are nevertheless better off than many others.

And John Howard has better do a return visit to Malaysia very soon -- that's the Asian way if he wishes to draw nearer to the Asean neighbours to keep to the spirit of his word publicly declared. Let us dwell on the positive points Malaysia and Australia shared in the past, and focus on building closer and neighbourly ties, and promoting "Prosper Thy Neighbour" policies befitting two Commonwealth countries of great wealth -- inherent in their friendly peoples and vast mines of resources.

G'Day Mates!