On 31st August 2007, the people of Malaysia will celebrate their 50th Independence Day anniversary. The marvellous development and progress made by Malaysia during the last fifty years could be attributed to none but to the commitment, dedication and hard work of the people of this Muslim country.
Malaysia today has risen to the stupendous heights of progress and prosperity. It is the 46th populous country of the world, enjoying a key position in the region in political, cultural and economic fields.
In the recent past, when the Islamic world was at the crossroads of political, religious and social changes, Malaysia was achieving enormous development economically, politically and culturally. Despite belonging to the Third world, not only it achieved a top position in the Muslim world it is now known as one of the developed countries.
Malaysia's remarkable achievements had made it "Asian Tiger" in the world. But, it would be highly unjustified if someone ignores the efforts and leadership of Mahathir Mohammad, who played a pivotal role in taking Malaysian economy to the peak, during his 22 years of leadership as Prime Minister of Malaysia. Afterwards, efforts of the present elected Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for continuation of the progress and economic development activities are considered as a role model for the rest of the world, and he rightly said: "My Government is facilitating the transformation of the economy to one that's driven by knowledge and innovation which is surely the route to enhancing long-term prosperity."
No doubt, Mahathir bin Mohammad's dynamic role in bringing outstanding changes in almost all spheres of life ranging from health, education, residential facilities to trade and industry in the Muslim country, and later on his economic agenda was followed actively by his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Pakistan-Malaysian relations are tied in strong bonds, sharing religious and cultural relations. Malaysia enjoys special status in diplomatic relations with Pakistan. Pakistan is among those countries than established diplomatic relations with Malaysia in the early days of Independence in 1957.
Both countries have joined hands for further strengthening their everlasting and strong relationships, hopeful of cementing these friendly relations in years to come.
The two brotherly countries in the recent past had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance their cooperation in tourism sector. The understanding reached between the two countries will expand cooperation in financing, funding in training, trade exhibitions and promotion of tourism sector.
Moreover, for furthering the relationship between the two countries, a "Travel Mart" was held and hosted at Pakistan High Commission at Kuala Lumpur last month. The ceremony was inaugurated by Shahid Rafi, Secretary to the Government of Pakistan on Tourism.
The Travel Mart was attended by a large number of Tour Operators from both the countries and besides High Commissioner of Pakistan in Malaysia Lieutenant General Tahir Mahmood Qazi (Retd.) and Datuk Mirza Muhammad Tayyab, Director General Malaysian Tourism Board also graced the occasion. This effort is also a part of people-to-people interaction.
Malaysia has adopted the policy of attracting tourists during the current year (2007), the Golden Jubilee Year of Malaysia's independence. Malaysia is included among the top tourists attracting nations as millions of foreign tourists visit Malaysia each year.
Till May 10th of the current year, approximately 8.9 million tourists had visited Malaysia and the number is persistently on the rise. The tourism sector of Malaysia has registered a tremendous growth by facilitating the tourists and promoting the basic infrastructure. 17.5 million tourists visited Malaysia during the last calendar year. The country has generated 44.5 million ringgit revenue from the tourism sector.
Apart from the MoU on promotion of tourism, both countries signed another MoU on 14th May 2007 for the construction of Karachi Northern Bypass, Rawalpindi-Bypass and Tarnol Interchange. The understandings have been signed between CIDB Department of Malaysia and Ministry of Communication of Pakistan.
These projects have been counted among the most significant projects of the National Highway Authority. The signing ceremony has held in Kuala Lumpur and was welcomed by the people of Pakistan as a step towards further advancement of friendly relations between the two brotherly Muslim states.
The growing co-operation between Pakistan and Malaysia will not only introduce new technology, but also boost foreign investment in Pakistan. The people of Pakistan are likely to take great benefits from such projects.
The lone superpower of unipolar world and Malaysia had agreed to continue the meeting for a treaty to free trade. In April 2007, both the countries specified the deadline of March for signing a free trade agreement but due to differences on various affairs, a treaty could not be materialised on scheduled deadline.
Malaysia is showing flexibility for settling the matter of Free Trade with United States and is hopeful of fruitful results from the year-long trade negotiations. In addition, Malaysia has also entered negotiations for Free Trade Agreement with People's Republic of China, South Korea, Turkey and other countries.
With Iran, Malaysia signed two MoUs in January 2007 for exploration of natural gas in the sea where the work is in progress. Gulshan Field is expected to have found 50 trillion cubic feet gas whereas Firdous Gas Field is estimated to have 10 trillion cubic feet gas.
Keeping all these points in view, not only can Pakistan take benefits from Malaysian global influence, it can also take benefits from ever increasing progress of Malaysia in the shape of manpower and raw material to development projects. In this context, it is high time for Pakistan to increase the contacts through its delegations. Malaysia is the biggest country in manufacturing and exporting palm oil in the world.
Malaysian Palm Oil Council and Malaysian Palm Oil Board have special relations with Pakistan Vanaspati Ghee Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Edible Oil Refinery Association and Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association. The Vanaspati Ghee Manufacturing Association of Pakistan depends on import of palm oil from Malaysia. Palm oil is playing a significant role in the industrial development of Malaysia.
After China and EU, Pakistan is the biggest importer of palm oil from Malaysia. The projects of Palm Oil Refinery, Oil Jeti between Pakistan and Malaysia are of considerable importance. Malaysia is also co-operating with Pakistan in enhancing the production of palm oil. Women of the two countries are also enjoying close relations.
The arrival of Malaysian women investors has increased Malaysian investment in Pakistan. Especially, Malaysia food (Halal), garment and beauty saloons are becoming extremely popular. A 20-member delegation headed by Mrs Fareeda Umar Shah of "Association of Bomi Putra Women Entrepreneur Networks" was on a visit in February this year.
The promotion of trade relations between the women of the two countries has become the focal point of the governments of both countries. The Malaysian government gives priority to education sector. It gives more attention to education at the pre-school and primary levels.
The present Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan H.E. Ahmad Shaizan Abd Samad is also very keen to enhance Pak-Malaysia relations in all fields of life with special emphasis on education sector cooperation between the two countries.
In 2004, Malaysia allocated a sum of Malaysian ringgit 9 billion to continue upgrade the standard and quality of medical services and public health in the country. Several new projects are being implemented. Attention is being given to public health services to improve the health of women, children and youth.
Moreover, for close cooperation between the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in prevention and treatment as well as support programmes, Malaysia allocated a sum of Malaysian ringgit 24 million in 2003. In addition, the government will continue to provide matching grants to dedicated and committed NGOs.
In the area of biotechnology for health, four projects are being undertaken, involving the collaboration of research institutes and universities. A bio-valley project has also been launched. The valley would house most of the biotechnology research work in health. In order to further improve the health services in the country, the government has also allowed the recruitment of 1,000 health professionals from other countries.
Pakistan and Malaysia also signed Early Harvest Agreement in October 2005 for establishing a palm oil refinery in Karachi as a joint venture with Kuala Lumpur Keopeng Berhad (KLK).
Some major Malaysian companies like Tanaga Nasional (power sector), Telekom Malaysia (IT sector) and numerous others have invested in telecom sector, housing and land development projects, infrastructure and construction projects. Petronas, the national company, involved in the exploration and drilling of gas and oil, is working on different projects in Pakistan. As many as 35 investment delegations from Malaysia visited Pakistan last year.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks between the two countries were in progress since October 2006 and the trade agreement would be operational by the end of this year.
Malaysia declared Pakistan as a source country to import manpower. The first batch of Pakistani labourers arrived in Kuala Lumpur in July 2005. Fourteen thousand Pakistanis have reached Malaysia under the manpower import arrangement so far. The upper limit for the import of Pakistani manpower is 100,000.
Malaysia's trading regime has traditionally focused on the international arena. It remains an example of a dynamic transformation from a primary producing economy into a rapidly industrialised one. During the past three decades, Malaysia has taken concrete steps towards the opening of its economy, and is considered one of the most opened economies of the world.
Although this outward-looking approach has paid dividends in terms of rapid economic growth and development, it has also made the economy somewhat vulnerable to external fluctuations.
The Malaysian construction industry has expressed its interest in Pakistan's infrastructure development projects such as roads, highways and housing. There exist strong possibilities of joint investment opportunities for both Pakistan and Malaysia, especially in information and communication technology sectors, with Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation and the Pakistan Software Houses Association very much in focus.
A memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Pakistan-Malaysia Joint Business and Investment Council was signed in May 2005. Malaysia's own strategy, Vision 2020, is aimed at transforming the country into a fully developed economy, on the premise of export-led growth.
Being a small economy with a population of 19 million people, it needs external markets for its manufactured goods, in order to achieve Vision 2020. Malaysia must achieve nine milestones: shift to high-technology industries, develop a mature democratic community, and form a community with a fair economy, etc.
Malaysia has maintained a proactive approach in the ASEAN region under Dr Mahathir Mohammed, its prime minister since 1981 and these efforts were sincerely and successfully carried forward by Malaysian Prime Minister H.E. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmed Badawi to continue the journey of progress and prosperity.
He focused primarily on Japan and South Korea and encouraged an exchange programme of students and workers with Japan and offered them employment post-exchange. He also had close affinity with the Japanese leaders. This collective approach enabled Malaysia to reach its level of high economic growth, develop a manufacturing base and ultimately make it an export-led economy.
Interestingly, ASEAN has also developed its own Vision 2020, with the aim of becoming a much more integrated grouping, leading to the formation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area - AFTA.
Unfortunately, from 1966 to 1979, there were no high-level exchanges between the two countries. But now, our president and prime minister regularly interact with their respective counterparts in Malaysia and give importance to their point of view in various international and regional matters.
During an official visit of the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato Hussein bin Onn, to Pakistan, a "Cultural Agreement", the "Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement", and the "Economic and Technical Co-operation Agreement" were signed, thereby strengthening the economic ties between the countries during the 1980s.
This relationship matured with a need to identify greater mutual co-cooperation and boosting of economic ties, and a Joint Economic Committee was set up in 1993 when Dr Mahathir visited Pakistan. He discussed bilateral matters, which included the promotion of trade and the export of Pakistani manpower to Malaysia.
It was at this point that Pakistan expressed its desire to learn from the Malaysian development experience. More recently, visits between the two countries have taken a visibly proactive turn, with regular visits from both sides, particularly since the establishment of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF). It was at the latter that the free trade agreement was finalised in November 2006.
Malaysia is an excellent example of remarkable development in all fields over the last few decades. Tolerance and harmony are noteworthy hallmarks of Malaysian society where Muslims, Buddhists and Christians are living in harmony.
Five reasons are identified as key to Malaysia's success story. First, the Malaysian leaders decided to implement a vision to articulate and implement policies. Second, Malaysia benefited from the stability in political and democratic institutions. Third, Malaysia did not repeat its mistakes. Fourth, Malaysia promoted a moderate version of Islam. Lastly, women have been given an important status in Malaysian society.
(The writer is Peshawar-based media consultant.)