Malaysia's 'Alliance Allergy' and its Eyes on Balabac

A three-day engagement with Malaysian think tanks, academics, and private sector representatives in Kuala Lumpur revealed a superficial understanding of our neighbor, Malaysia, a co-founder of ASEAN and a crucial member. It became clear that Malaysia is a more complex nation than perceived, not simply pro-China. Among the four key takeaways, a notable concern was expressed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding the US military's rotational presence on Balabac, an island in southern Palawan. Balabac is situated about 20 minutes by speedboat from Malaysia's Banggi Island and is part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the US. A military airstrip is reportedly under construction there, and joint military exercises with US and Australian forces have taken place. Prime Minister Anwar stated, "As a neighboring country closely affected by claims over Sabah [Banggi Island is in Sabah], we are somewhat concerned with the tension, even though our bilateral relations with the Philippines remain very good. We must strengthen our basic defense capabilities." This contrasts with the Philippines' perspective of bolstering its defense in Balabac as a deterrent against China. A Malaysian think tank official explained that the concern stems from the "possibility of miscalculation which may rope in Malaysia," which desires neutrality. Professor Cheng-chwee Kuik of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia highlighted Malaysia's "allergy to alliance," describing the differing "strategic DNA" of Malaysia and the Philippines. Malaysia adopts an ASEAN-centric approach, engaging actively in ASEAN Plus platforms, while viewing the Philippines as more "alliance-centric." Among ASEAN members, only the Philippines and Thailand are treaty allies of the US, with the Manila-Washington alliance appearing more robust. Conversely, some in the Philippines perceive Malaysia as leaning towards China. Despite being a South China Sea claimant, Malaysia practices quiet diplomacy with China, keeping protests against Beijing's incursions into its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under wraps—a stark contrast to the Philippines' approach. However, Malaysia has demonstrated success in protecting its economic activities in the South China Sea. Petronas, the state-owned oil and gas company, is advancing natural gas development in the Kasawari field, located off the coast of Sarawak within its EEZ but claimed by China. While China Coast Guard vessels have intruded, Malaysia's Navy and Maritime Enforcement Agency maintain watch and shadow these vessels, safeguarding its economic survival. Malaysia is the second-highest producer of petroleum in Southeast Asia and the fifth-highest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) globally. Information Source: Rappler Philippines