Fruitful meeting: Zeya with Mohamad Hasan at the Foreign Ministry in Putrajaya. — Wisma Putra Facebook
EVEN as Malaysia increasingly looks East and South globally for diplomatic and economic cooperation, its comprehensive partnership with the United States remains strong.
This was further demonstrated by the recent visit to Kuala Lumpur of US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya for an engagement about human rights, humani- tarian cooperation, and human- centred civilian security.
“I’m here because Malaysia matters and the US seeks a strong partnership with a free, prosperous, and successful Malaysia.
“Like the US, Malaysia is a vibrant, multiethnic and multicultural democracy, and my trip comes at a fortuitous moment in US-Malaysia relations, as we mark the 10th anniversary of our Comprehensive Partnership; very soon, 67 years of formal diplomatic relations; and over 40 years of defence cooperation,” said Zeya, who was on her first official visit to Malaysia.
Malaysia and the United States formalised a comprehensive partnership to enhance bilateral relations in April 2014. As a key partner in South-East Asia, Malaysia has a diverse and expanding cooperation with the United States in trade, investment, security, environment, and education.
The two countries have a long history of people-to-people exchanges, while also cooperating on security matters, including counterterrorism, maritime domain awareness, and regional stability. This results in frequent joint bilateral and multilateral training, exercises, and visits.
And this strong relationship is set to grow as Malaysia assumes the Asean chair in 2025.
On her whirlwind two-day visit at the end of August, Zeya met with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, as well as other senior government representatives and various civil society members.
“The US values our dynamic partnership with Malaysia, and we welcome Malaysia’s voice and contributions in addressing regional and global challenges.
“Together, we can deliver for all our citizens and advance a more interconnected, free and open, prosperous, and resilient Indo-Pacific,” Zeya told Sunday Star.
She highlighted the two nations’ achievement in addressing human trafficking together, particularly the rising menace of online scams, as a vital win.
“Combating human trafficking remains a shared challenge. It’s an opportunity for us to learn from and support one another.
“We are particularly concerned about areas like online scam operations,” she said, commending Malaysia’s significant efforts to combat trafficking in persons, which led to an upgrade to tier two in this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report that the United States puts out annually; Malaysia had been downgraded to tier three in 2021 and 2022.
“As a result of Malaysia’s actions, the number of trafficking investigations increased. Courts held more traffickers criminally accountable, and allegedly complicit officials were prosecuted, and public awareness about trafficking increased compared with the previous year.
“These important steps require continued action to keep up the momentum. So the US strongly encourages the Malaysian government to increase victim identification and international cooperation to combat forced criminality and fraud for online scam operations.”
Zeya, who was sworn in as under secretary in July 2021, also oversees the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, which is now partnering with Malaysia to strengthen anti-corruption efforts through several regional and global programmes valued at US$3mil (RM12.6mil).
“The landmark 1MDB case is one more example of US-Malaysian anti-corruption collaboration, with over US$1.7bil [RM7.82bil] in ill-gotten gains returned to the Malaysian people as a result of our joint action, and we encourage continued anti-corruption reforms,” said Zeya.
Malaysia and the United States are also strengthening their partnership in addressing global civilian security challenges towards creating a more open and secure Indo-Pacific.
“To that end, we are proud of our deepening maritime law enforcement cooperation. Since 2018 the US government has supported Malaysian maritime domain awareness through US$240mil [RM1.01bil] in maritime security funding for unmanned aerial vehicles, radar, and aircraft.
“The US also looks forward to working with Malaysia to meet escalating humanitarian needs throughout the region, especially as Malaysia assumes the Asean chair in 2025.
“Our policy on Asean is clear. We believe it’s essential to the region. We are committed to Asean centrality.
“We also encourage Malaysia to leverage its role as chair to help sustain support for the people of Myanmar and their ability to chart their own future.
“The US remains deeply concerned by the worsening crisis in Myanmar, which has exacted an almost unimaginable humanitarian toll.
“This is why we are so committed to sustaining this substantial humanitarian support to countries supporting displaced persons from this crisis, but we’re also urging others to step up.”
Zeya added that the United States recognises Malaysia’s longterm hosting of hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers and refugees, including the Rohingya.
“We also encourage Malaysia to expand its cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Refu-gees, to allow UNHCR access to immigration detention centres and to support third country resettlement.”
Zeya said the United States is committed to working closely with Malaysia and other regional partners to push the Myanmar regime to implement Asean’s Five Point Consensus agreement.
“But I think we also must continue to urge the regime in Myan-mar to cease violence and return Myanmar to the democratic path, which has been so cruelly subverted,” she said.
Despite the optimism, however, geopolitical and realpolitik issues continue to loom over Malaysia-US bilateral ties.
Malaysia’s close relationship with China and Iran, which is based on this country’s principle of neutrality – not to mention its recent overtures to Russia – poses some concern.
Then there is Malaysia’s unyielding support of Palestine and Hamas, combined with Putrajaya’s disdain for Washington’s selective adherence to international law, particularly where Israel is concerned.
These have caused friction between the two countries, with some even calling for a review of the Malaysia-US Comprehensive Partnership.
“We do have an intense competition with China, which we seek to manage responsibly,” said Zeya
“As for the comprehensive partnership, I think it is a very strong frame to advance our shared values and aspirations. And that doesn’t mean that we have to agree on every point.
“I think, as friends and partners, it’s important that we continue to speak to one another, to engage one another, and listen to one another, and in doing so, I come away hopeful that we can work together to build greater peace, to build human-centred security, and ultimately to strengthen each of our democracy’s ability to deliver for our people,” Zeya said.
She in fact describes the comprehensive partnership as a success story.
“Looking at the basis of the comprehensive partnership – our economic cooperation – we can see significant success.
“The US is very proud to be Malaysia’s leading foreign direct investor, which has created more than 300,000 high quality, high paying jobs for Malaysians. It’s also quite noteworthy that Malaysia is in the top 20 trading partners of the US.”
Another key area of Malaysia-US diplomatic engagement is the people-to-people dimension, specifically educational exchanges, Zeya pointed out.
“This year, I’m happy to report that almost 5,000 Malaysians are attending school in the US.”
The partnership is built on a foundation of a shared attachment to democracy, she noted.
“There is a win-win dynamic in the upward trajectory of our relationship that I think we are very keen in supporting. And it isn’t about other actors in the region. It’s really about meeting the shared hopes of the Malaysian and the American people.”
As for the Gaza conflict, Zeya said that the United States understands that the issue matters tremendously to Malaysians.
“It matters to Americans as well, and to the American government. The US and the Malaysian governments also share the view that a two-state solution is the best outcome for securing a lasting peace in the region.”
The US position is clear, she reiterated: “We want an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We want all hostages returned home, and we want the daily suffering of Palestinians to end.
“This is why we are going to continue to work intensively nonstop with our partners and allies to negotiate for a ceasefire. We have to persevere. We have to try. We’re not going to walk away.
“We mourn every Palestinian civilian lost in the conflict, including children, and far too many civilians continue to be killed and wounded. This underscores the urgency of a ceasefire and hostage deal, which we continue to work tirelessly to achieve.”
On the question of the United States continuing to send aid and arms to Israel, Zeya said the commitment to Israel’s security and supporting Israel’s ability to defend itself have been a bedrock of US foreign policy.
“However, we believe that it is possible to support Israel’s ability to defend itself while meeting the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, for whom the US is the leading international donor.”
Since Oct 7, the United States has continually and consistently urged Israel to minimise civilian harm and uphold international humanitarian law as it defends itself from ongoing Hamas attacks and seeks to free hostages, she added.
“All recipients of US-origin defence articles and security assistance must comply with human rights provisions under US law.
“We have urged Israel at the highest levels to uphold international humanitarian law, thoroughly and transparently investigate reported violations of human rights, and ensure accountability for any alleged violations, several of which are under active Israeli government investigation.”
On the issue of continuity for US foreign policy with the change of administration next year, Zeya said she is confident that there will not be much change in US’ Indo-Pacific policy.
“As a diplomat I cannot comment on it, so like the rest of the world, I will be watching the outcome of the upcoming US presidential election on television,” she quipped, before adding: “Sometimes people forget that the US itself is an Indo-Pacific nation, so I think we will continue to forge partnerships with this region.
“And as reflected in our partnership with Malaysia, we will continue to work towards the shared Indo-Pacific vision of a more open, prosperous and secure region.”
