Letters
Star Online Monday, 07 Oct 2024
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s just concluded visits to Pakistan and Bangladesh might have slipped under the radar for many Malaysians. An honorary doctorate and a highest state award conferred notwithstanding, these trips weren’t as headline-grabbing as his recent engagements with China, Japan, or Russia.
And if you’re looking at the trade figures, they pale before those of other nations. In 2023, Malaysia’s total trade with Pakistan stood at RM7.84bil, and with Bangladesh at RM12.7bil – combined, it’s less than what PETRONAS makes in a month.
But focusing on trade figures alone would miss the bigger picture.
Pakistan and Bangladesh matter far more to Malaysia than the statistics suggest. Both countries hold immense potential for Malaysia, although decades of political strife and external challenges have kept them from realising their full promise.
Pakistan has been bogged down by repeated military interventions, political upheaval, and the turmoil in Afghanistan.
Indeed, as we left Islamabad as part of the PM’s official delegation, the air was thick with political unease as the capital and neighbouring Rawalpindi were locked down over former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan’s calls for protests against a controversial Constitutional amendment.
Nonetheless, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif – whose “leadership, wisdom, and unwavering friendship” Anwar lauded as having “further strengthened the enduring bonds between Pakistan and Malaysia” – has demonstrated firm stewardship in navigating these turbulent times.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, has hitherto been trapped by dynastic rivalries that have created deep societal divides. Even taking it at face value, the student-led revolution of Aug 5 that toppled prime minister Sheikh Hasina still has miles to go on what is surely a long and winding road.
Both nations are working hard to claw their way out of their quagmires.
It is these efforts to address deep-rooted challenges that make Anwar’s visit so crucial. Quite apart from the rock star allure that Anwar exudes, both Pakistan and Bangladesh view him as a key statesman in the geopolitical arena, and look to Malaysia’s revitalised economy as a model for their own ambitions.
Malaysia’s success, marked by exceptional growth in sectors like semiconductors, and phenomenal spikes in digital-centric and tech-driven FDIs, has no doubt been spurred by strong fundamentals and bold structural reforms. Such impressive achievements naturally offer valuable insights for the economic aspirations of the two countries.
Further, from the speeches of both Sharif and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, leader of Bangladesh’s interim government, it is crystal clear that Anwar’s war on corruption and nepotism back home resonates deeply with them.
Undeniably, Anwar’s vision transcends short-term gains and emphasises long-term partnerships, and the promise of future potential. Additionally, as Anwar reiterated in the joint press conferences, these are relationships that go beyond mere material advantage, strategic or otherwise; they venture into the realm of the familial and personal, forged on the anvil of brotherly ties cemented by trust and mutual respect.
One of the most striking aspects of Pakistan and Bangladesh is their youthful populations. In Pakistan, two-thirds of the population are under the age of 30, and in Bangladesh, more than a quarter of the country’s 170 million people are between 15 and 29 years old.
While youth unemployment and social instability loom large, these young people represent an enormous untapped resource. By harnessing their energy, creativity, and desire for inclusion, they could become the driving force for a new era of economic growth for both nations.
Pakistan’s youth are already making their mark globally, especially in the freelance economy. From software development to digital marketing, young Pakis-tanis have become some of the world’s largest suppliers of freelance talent.
In Bangladesh, the story is similar. Young entrepreneurs in the tech and startup sectors are rising rapidly, positioning themselves – and their country – for success in the global digital economy.
But there’s a perception problem. In Malaysia, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are often seen as migrant workers – labourers who toil in construction sites, restaurants, plantations, and factories, or low-wage hired hands tending nurseries and gardens.
Malaysia is home to a substantial number of migrant workers from both nations, with around 450,000 Bangladeshis having arrived in Malaysia since August 2022.
While these workers are vital to Malaysia’s economic engine, the relationship between Malaysia and these countries should not – and cannot – be confined to migrant labour. Indeed, Malaysia has long relied on migrant labour, but the country is now shifting towards prioritising high-tech skilled labour to drive future economic growth.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are promising markets for Malaysia in sectors such as palm oil, halal products, and Islamic finance. The potential for future collaboration is immense.
Take Pakistan’s financial system. By 2027, Pakistan will fully transition to a sharia-compliant banking model, following a landmark ruling by its Federal Shariat Court. This presents Malaysia, a global leader in Islamic finance, with an opportunity to share expertise in Islamic financial products like sukuk.
In Bangladesh, Anwar’s visit carried particular significance as he became the first foreign leader to visit the country under its interim government. During their meeting, Anwar lauded Yunus as “the embodiment of selfless leadership, dedicated to the betterment of his people”.
With a friendship going back decades, the chemistry between the two was palpable, with Anwar affirming that while the shape of Bangladesh’s future governance rests with its citizens, Malaysia stands ready to lend a helping hand.
For Anwar, this visit was a gesture of solidarity with what he sees as a reform movement that mirrors Malaysia’s own journey. Anwar’s engagement with Bangladesh at this critical juncture reflects his desire to support the country’s efforts to strengthen governance and combat corruption.
Malaysia, notably the first Muslim country to recognise Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, has long shared strong ties with Dhaka. Anwar’s visit reinforced that bond, offering both encouragement and partnership as Bangladesh navigates its current challenges.
One of the most powerful moments of Anwar’s visit came during his speech in acceptance of the honorary doctorate conferred on him by Islamabad’s National University of Sciences and Technology. Invoking the philosophy of Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s great poet-philosopher, Anwar made a rallying call for a renewal of the Muslim world.
The ummah, he argued, must rise above its divisions and embrace Iqbal’s vision of intellectual self-reformation and societal progress. Anwar contends that Iqbal’s conception of the principle of ijtihad represents a departure from the fiqh-bound legalistic approach, opening up this doctrine to new vistas for reform and renewal, that is, islah and tajdid.
Anwar’s call for ijtihad was a plea for the Muslim world to find a balance between faith and modernity, tradition and progress. His message was clear: The Muslim world must move forwards.
Ultimately, these visits were strategic moves to build deeper, more meaningful relationships. While the real gains from these partnerships may not be immediately visible, there’s no reason to doubt that the future potential could be enormous.
In any event, Anwar’s charisma demonstrates Malaysia’s soft power in the region, and that already is a win.
DATUK PROF DR MOHD FAIZ ABDULLAH
Chairman
Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia
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