Is Malaysia Really a ‘Maritime’ Nation?
Despite its close connection to the maritime domain, Malaysia still thinks and behaves strategically like a continental power.
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May 25, 2021
The Royal Malaysian Navy and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency take part in maritime training exercise with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, August 16, 2019.
Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tristin Barth
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In its first Defense White Paper, published in 2019, Malaysia proclaimed itself to be a “maritime nation with continental roots.” Indeed, the nation has a unique geography: peninsular Malaysia is connected to the larger Eurasian continent via the Isthmus of Kra, while East Malaysia consists of two states – Sabah and Sarawak – located far off on the island of Borneo, together with Brunei and Indonesia’s Kalimantan. Malaysia has long coastlines, large maritime Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), and contine
14 Apr 2021 / 10:31 H.
Colonialism in The Malay Archipelago: Civilisational Encounters presents fresh perspectives on colonial incursions into the Nusantara region seen from the lens of the region’s scholars and researchers. They question motives and debunk biases in colonial and post-colonial narratives where native societies and indigenous peoples are depicted as inferior and in need of foreign intervention. Deliberately underplayed in these accounts are the selfish motives of Western imperialists and their agents including the colonial administrations and trading companies they established. Political and economic rivalry amongst them in Europe was the real driving force behind the colonial policies and strategies executed by Portugal, Spain, Holland and Great Britain that saw the expansion of territory and dominance in faraway places in their bid for “gold, God and glory” – the three civilisational motives of Christian Europe. The book’s focus as articulately described
Published on: Saturday, April 03, 2021
By: Bernama
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The artefacts have been discovered during a rescue archaeology by the archaeology section of the Department of National Heritage and the Melaka Museum Corporation since March 25, 2021. (Photo: Bernama)
MELAKA: A total of 30 pieces of wood believed to be from a merchant ship during the time of the Malacca Sultanate were found recently during an archaeological dig at Pulau Melaka.
State Tourism, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman, Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis said that besides the pieces of merbau (a hardwood), hundreds of old coins from the time of Sultan Mahmud (1488 - 1511) as well as the Dutch (VOC coins) and Portuguese occupation, as well as Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain shards, were unearthed. (pix)
THE beginning of 2021 marks the end of Vision 2020 - a utopian concept launched in 1991, which imagined all sorts of futures for our nation. Besides technological and economic advancement, one challenge was also mentioned in Vision 2020 - “Creating a united Malaysia with a shared goal”.
Thirty years after the announcement, integration and national cohesion have yet to be fully addressed. Racial sentiments and mutual suspicion continue to create tensions that may explode at any time.
In 2021, we are called to dig deep and see what visions of stronger unity we might be able to offer Malaysians moving forward. In light of this, the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) has put forth the idea of Cosmopolitan Islam as a key pillar in the forging of Bangsa Malaysia, which in turn can be the key pillar and concept in forging national unity. These ideas were discussed at length in the policy speech at Abim’s 49th Annual General Assembly on Dec 26,2020.
O HUMANITY! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware. - Surah Al Hujurat, verse 13.
When the Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina, he created a constitution called the
Saheefah. This was a reflection of his role as not only a religious leader but also as the leader of a state that had citizens of all religions. Within this constitution, he explicitly stated the roles and responsibilities of each citizen, including protecting and respecting each other s rights despite differences in race, religion and tribal alliances.