By Manisha Ghosh
Long back, during the Soviet era, Russia and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1967 through a trade agreement.
The bonding was besmirched, even dissolved when Malaysia decided to support the Afghanistan Mujahideens during Soviet invasion to Afghanistan to support the Islamic Unity and tensions between the two nations prevailed throughout the Cold War. Their bilateral relations also befouled due to Malaysia’s stand in the Vietnam war and successive insurgencies- the two infamous Malayan Emergency and the Sarawak Communist Insurgency.
However, snow melting started during the end of Soviet-Afghan warwith initiatives of the then Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and Malay Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamadboth countries engaged in reparing diplomatic, economic, and military ties. Vladimir Putin, followed his predecessor and visited Kuala Lumpur twice in 2003 when he conferred the Order of Friendship to Mahathir in acknowledgement of his contribution to consolidate the welcomingbonds between the two countries and promoting global stability with religious accord. Russia also strengthened military ties with Malaysia by supplying 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter aircraft to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). In 2012 and 2016 both countries expanded the existing trade relation by introducing new direct flights and free trade agreement and further bolstered their relation.
In August 2019 the Russian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was threatened by bomb attacks. Following September, a high-level Russian delegation arrived in Malaysia to bolster their defense ties that definitely spotlighted persistentexertions to develop the bilateral relations between the two nations, particularly in the defense aspect in a key time- just ahead of Mahathir’s visit to Russia to attend his maiden Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) summit. In fact, from the eve of Mahathir’s second tenure, since November, during Mahathir-Putin summit, the two sides conferred ways to advance ties, with Mahathir argued that Malaysia still had “to learn more about how to repair and maintain Russian” aircraft, a point earlier echoed by Malaysia’s defense minister Mohamad Sabu in context of RAMF’s capability.
Both the countries are currently focusing to strengthen their defense ties with each other. Before Mahathir’s visit to Russia, Malay Defense Minister Sabu held a meeting with the visiting Secretary of the National Security Council, Nikolai P. Patrushev to discuss current shape of their defense accord and security concerns of general interest that includes cyber-security, overall crime scene and its rate of increment, drug and human trafficking, terrorism- both homeland and from out of the country etc. and prospective avenues for amplifying relations in defense industry cooperation through joint ventures, elegant affiliation and correlated business alliances.
In this regard, particularly important are the agreements of Russia and Malaysia upon maintenance of previously sold Russian aircrafts to Malaysia by Moscow, purchasing new fleet of Russian fighter jets and helicopters, extensive help in developing the overall scenario of Malaysian defense and aerospace industries etc. Moscow offered to provide two squadrons of new-generation stealth MiG-35 fighters to RMAF.
The Kremlin also expressed its desire to develop an aerospace university in Malaysia. Mahathir, in this regard told the media “We are very interested in aerospace and engineering. I am confident that the proposal by Russia to set up an aerospace university would not only boost investment but also promote transfer of technology in the sector.” Just like Mahathir, Putin also have shown a keen interest to boost the bilateral relation with Kuala Lumpur, hence he handpicked Victor Kladov, the key person to help developing Russia-Malaysia relation during Mahathir’s first tenure, as his special emissary.
On the other page of the book, Putin invited Mahathir to join the EEF forum and Mahathir was overwhelmed with the gracious hospitality and arrangement accorded to him by the Russian government while participating in the event for the first time. He was given a warm welcome during the session, with participants at the forum erupted into a spontaneous round of applause when Mahathir promenaded to the podium to deliver his notes. In his maiden remarks, he highlighted that Malaysia has always had the feeling that Russia was insufficiently attentive to its far-east territories (mean- Malaysia) “But now we see that the interest is very real and to us, this may mean the opening of a new market for Malaysia.” He also gladly expressed his deep gratitude to Putin focusing on his visionary decision to develop the Far East as a national priority of the entire 21st century.
Nevertheless, both Kremlin and Kuala Lumpur is interested to develop their currently timid economic ties with long term affiliation. Putin is ambitious to promote a fresh economy centralizing Vladivostok, where hefty companies, as well as small and medium-sized businesses, could count on tax breaks, concessional loans and support from the state development institutions. Mahathir also remarked that this kind of development will also attract Malaysian billionaires to invest in Russia and Malaysia also needs to think on serious plans of developing such economic zones to boost its economy.
According to OEC, while over half the Russian import from Malaysia is machines, about 70 percent of its export to Malaysia are mineral products, signaling that there is large room for both countries to diversify their trade cooperation. Despite of earlier efforts to enhance and diversify the total trade volume increased very slowly, from $2.19billion in 2016 to just above $2.5 billion in 2019. Challenges and opportunities go hand in hand for Malaysia-Russia trade. In this circumstance, Mahathir wisely commented at the EEF forum that “I can see only benefit from our closer relationship” pointing ties between Malaysia and Russia which have always been good and there are still tremendous opportunities where both countries could work together.
However, Malaysia must be aware of certain facts that are based on historical events and statistical analysis. In economic terms, Russia hardly looms large- its GDP is per capita is only slightly higher than Malaysia’s. Russia’s political and strategic influence in Southeast Asia remains weak and its economy is suffering with major US/UN sanctions. Nevertheless, Russia is seen as a potential source of investment and technology, moreover a superior military power. And with Mahathir on power in Malaysia, it is better to be optimistic that the Malaysia-Russian channel will funnel growth, prosperity and strength.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights)
Image Source: EPA