Page 2 - Diplomatic Voice Vol 4

PROFILE OF PROMINENT PERSON Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan Distinguished Fellow of IDFR Q: As the Chairman of the Institute of production and skilled human ca- preceded the training and subsequent track two institutions and even multi- diplomats and other sundry foreign Strategic and International Studies pital the most vital resource. lifelong learning. national companies now play signifi- operatives, especially those from (ISIS) Malaysia, would you like to share cant roles in international affairs. It will Malaysia. There was the domestic the vision of ISIS in 2015 onwards? For Malaysia to become a high- But good diplomats make for good be the task of the foreign ministry to political instability, the threat posed by income economy, it has no choice but foreign policy, both in policy formula- mobilise, coordinate and deploy these the Communist Party of Thailand, the A: Our vision is to consolidate our to hasten its transition from a produc- tion as well as implementation. And actors and resources as best it can in complications to security and bilateral status as the leading think tank in the tion-based economy to a largely the teaching and training staff as well furtherance of coherent foreign policy relations caused by the Communist country and strengthen our standing knowledge-based one. Among other as students in IDFR provide ready goals. Party of Malaya entrenched in among regional thinks tanks and the things, it has to further reduce its resources for research and analysis of southern Thailand and the Muslim policy community. reliance upon imported low-skilled major issues and policy options. Second, to formulate and implement a irredentist movements in the south. labour and successfully implement its Perhaps these valuable resources more effective communication stra- We intend to achieve our vision by national education blueprint. could be tapped some more. tegy in which Foreign Ministries often To cap them all, there was the intensifying our research and contribu- refer to as public diplomacy. The de- Vietnamese invasion and occupation tions in the policy areas most critical to Q: Based on your experience and IDFR could also extend training in the ficit in this area is huge not only for of Cambodia, presenting major politi- Malaysia’s national interest and com- wisdom, what are the key tools in rudiments of diplomacy and negotia- Ministry of Foreign Affairs but for the cal and security problems for the prehensive well-being. These include creating more able Malaysian diplo- tions to officials in other government entire government machinery. Percep- region. Thailand became the “frontline the areas of economic and social de- mats? agencies such as trade, defence and tion is (almost) everything. Unless the state” and Malaysia was heavily velopment, national unity, foreign po- environment in line with the require- government takes this aspect much involved in political and diplomatic licy and security, and the environment. A: Knowledge, language (especially ments of total diplomacy as described more seriously and is prepared to initiatives, including in the creation of English language) skills and socialisa- below. invest in it, Malaysia’s foreign policy the “Third Force” and the Coalition In the region we would like to play an tion skills. When our diplomats are will not be as productive. Government of Democratic Kampu- even more prominent role in think tank better equipped in these three areas, Q: What changes would you suggest chea (CGDK). and track two networks such as the they will have greater ability to shape in enhancing Malaysia’s foreign po- Third, a better crafted policy towards ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and foreign policy, conduct diplomacy and licy? our largest neighbour, Indonesia. This I learnt a lot during my stint in Thailand International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), engage in negotiations. policy will have to be based on a and I hope I managed to make a tangi- Council for Security Cooperation in A: I would like to highlight three areas deeper understanding of this im- ble if modest contribution to Malay- the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) and Network Q: How do you see IDFR and the role it within the context of a more active portant country; the dispatch of our sia’s foreign policy interests and of East Asia Think Tanks (NEAT) plays in contributing to Malaysia’s foreign policy. best diplomats there, always and not regional security while there. besides sustaining and further deve- foreign policy? intermittently; the astute cultivation of loping bilateral dialogues with key First, to become more adept at key centres of power and influence countries important to Malaysia such A: IDFR’s primary purpose is training, conducting total diplomacy in a and better media management at as Indonesia, China, the United States not formulating foreign policy or globalised environment where actors home and cultivation of the media in and India. executing it. The training of our diplo- have multiplied and diplomacy has Indonesia. mats is a serious business. Our diplo- become more multi-faceted. Besides Adequate expertise and how we best mats will only be as good as the the foreign ministry, trade officials, Q: Would you mind sharing the biggest leverage upon our limited resources training they get, the education that defence officials and military chiefs, challenge that you have experienced will be critical to achieving our throughout your career? objectives. A: My biggest test was to perform and Q: Considering your past involvement deliver in challenging circumstances in coordinating the project of Malay- when I was posted overseas. sia’s Knowledge-Based Economy Master Plan, how do you think such a Jakarta was then (1977-1980) relative- Plan can help bring the country closer ly easy. There were fewer actors and to becoming a fully developed nation constituencies to address, unlike now. by 2020? The lines between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta were strong and forged at the A: All developed economies are know- highest levels. Matters could be ledge-based economies because it is handled and resolved quickly and in knowledge-based economic activity often to mutual satisfaction. There was that greater wealth resides. The tradi- goodwill aplenty between the two tional factors of production like land governments and peoples. And there and labour yield less wealth and was domestic political stability. income as economies move up the value chain. Knowledge itself be- Bangkok (1980-1983) was different. comes the most important factor of There was never a dull moment for 2 bulletin@idfr.gov.my