His Majesty the DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim returned safely from a successful 4-day official visit to China yesterday.
South China Morning Post and Star Online reported Agong in tears expressing gratitude to China for the treatment provided to the departed prince, Tengku Abdul Jalil. Local media emphasised the improving bilateral relation between China and Malaysia, in which the last visit by an Agong was in 2014.
Sadly, a local business portal chose to do third party reporting purely based on "Reuters .... has alleged" and insinuate the visit as a private business trip by Agong.
The business portal, by a publishing company established since 2019 with several known publications in the market and boasting a string of accolades, should have done their homework, not blindly follow American and Singaporean narrative, and put national interest as priority.
A Pakistan media, Express Tribune (below) had better sense and could appreciate the key takeaway of this visit:
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim commits to peaceful cooperation with China in South China sea
Statement came as two nations commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations marking kings first official trip in decade
News Desk September 21, 2024
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During a state visit to China, Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar affirmed his country’s commitment to collaborating with China to maintain peace in the resource-rich South China Sea.
This statement came as the two nations commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations, marking the king's first official trip to China in a decade.
Meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Sultan Ibrahim emphasized Malaysia’s readiness to “join hands with China” to foster stability in the region.
The visit included a ceremonial welcome and discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral ties.
Xi praised the long-standing friendship between China and Malaysia, stating that the anniversary presents an opportunity to deepen cooperation and create a “China-Malaysia community with a shared future.”
He expressed China’s eagerness to support Malaysia in its development initiatives and highlighted the potential for high-quality collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), focusing on infrastructure and other key projects.
Sultan Ibrahim expressed appreciation for China's development achievements and confirmed Malaysia’s intent to bolster cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, and cultural exchange
He also noted Malaysia’s support for Xi’s Global Development Initiative and its commitment to building stronger partnerships within ASEAN, where Malaysia will assume the rotating presidency in 2025.
Tensions have occasionally surfaced in the South China Sea, where China claims extensive territorial rights, overlapping with claims from Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei.
Recently, Malaysia faced diplomatic friction over oil exploration activities in the area, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim indicating ongoing communication with China on these matters.
Sultan Ibrahim conveyed Malaysia’s respect for China's position on global issues, including the Palestinian situation, and emphasized the importance of joint efforts in addressing regional challenges.
The king’s visit is anticipated to result in discussions about implementing previously signed agreements and exploring further areas of collaboration, particularly in new energy, digital technology, and higher education.
This trip marks a significant moment for Malaysia, highlighting the increasingly vital role of the monarchy in diplomatic engagements. While the Malaysian king traditionally holds a ceremonial position, his influence has grown in guiding the country’s foreign relations and defense policies.
The visit includes scheduled meetings with various Chinese officials, aiming to enhance mutual understanding and foster closer ties between the two nations.
Sultan Ibrahim's itinerary also features stops at notable educational and technological institutions in Beijing, reinforcing the emphasis on collaborative learning and innovation.
As both nations look toward the future, they are poised to strengthen their partnership in various domains, contributing to regional stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Bangkok Post picked on the same takeaway.
On September 18th, prior to the official visit from September 19th to 22nd, CNA and Reuters inferred in the report headline that the trip was intended to seek support from China for the HSR redevelopment. However, the report was on visit by China's Premier Li Qiang in June related to the Pan Asian Railway.
In their September 20th report, Singapore's Straits Times quoted Bloomberg and The Diplomat went to the extent of speculating the visit was to seek funds, presumably to negotiate funding and highlighting YTL officials were in the entourage.
That is uncalled for as it is beneath the role of the Agong to be involved directly in day-to-day administrative matter and more so, it would be unfair as there are other bidders for the construction of the HSR, including China's own CRCC.
As a Malaysian-based portal, they should be aware of the national interest for a neutral foreign policy in relations with the superpowers. Why then are they echoing the narrative of the Western and Singapore media to create the perception the country is begging for fund?
What purpose is there to support a local media which is merely to parrot foreign media i.e. interest and failed to highlight the Malaysian perspective i.e. national interest?
American and Singapore media are united in promoting and defending their national interest irrespective of ideology and leaning.
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