MALAYSIA’S REGIONALISM WITH HUMANITARIAN IMPERATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND TIMOR LESTE: APPLYING LESSONS FROM REGIONAL HUMANITARIANISM INTO DOMESTIC IMPERATIVES

Abstract

Abstract In the decades leading to Malaysia’s formation the young country had to confront existential threats from domestic and external sources. These threats included diplomatic embargoes and covert incursions from Indonesia and the Philippines, compounded by complex effects from long-standing cross-border migration and economic exchange. Fortunately, these pressures were eased through counter‑insurgency under the Anglo‑Malaysia Defence Agreement and the restoration of diplomatic ties. However, there remains complexly intertwined problems of economic, security, and demographic dilemmas. Rather than adopt restrictive, exclusionary measures, Malaysia pursued a conciliatory statecraft that combines de‑escalation diplomacy, regionalism, humanitarian assistance, and peace mediation to build trust, goodwill, and cooperative ties. This paper examines Malaysia’s use of peace mediation and humanitarian diplomacy, with case studies in the Philippines and Timor‑Leste, and draws thematic conclusions. First, Malaysia has leveraged sophisticated regionalism and humanitarian diplomacy to advance regional peace and shared prosperity. The outcome from such an adept statecraft includes both material gains and accumulation of sovereign intangible assets such as trust, political and reputational mileage. Second, protecting regional interests requires accumulating tangible and intangible assets through coordinated humanitarian and traditional diplomacy, involving state and non‑state actors in a sustained humanitarian‑driven statecraft that can turn crises into mutual benefits. Finally, lessons from regional humanitarianism should inform domestic policy. Particularly urgent, concrete responses to socioeconomic neglect, resource imbalance, and security risks in East Malaysia.