IDFR’s Inaugural Cultural Appreciation Day

In line with IDFR’s aim of The two MTCP programmes sum, tacos and salade niçoise. promoting cultural diplomacy, the comprised participants from Institute organised its first ever Bangladesh, , Bhutan, This was followed by performances Cultural Appreciation Day on 28 Ecuador, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, by participants from the Philippines, July 2016. The event was held in Kenya, Malawi, , Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Malaysia, collaboration with the participants Mauritius, Pakistan, Palestine, the which, among others, featured a of the three programmes taking Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, mock Malay wedding ceremony. place at the Institute then; the Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam The Ambassador of the Republic Diploma in Diplomacy (DiD), the and Zambia, and each country was of Tajikistan, H.E. Dr. Muzaffar Malaysian Technical Cooperation given a booth to decorate with Muhammadi, then took to the stage Programme (MTCP): Strategic items and paraphernalia from their for an impromptu performance on Analysis Course and the Malaysian home country. The participants the dutar, a traditional long-necked Technical Cooperation Programme donned beautiful traditional/national two-string lute. (MTCP): Intercultural Awareness costumes and took turns to and Diplomacy Course. present about their culture during Since it was still the month of a walkabout session. The DiD Syawal, the Institute took the The event was graced by Dato’ participants, made up of officers opportunity to also organise a Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, small Eid celebration lunch. The the Deputy Secretary General of the showcased their command of afternoon allowed everyone Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Others foreign languages that they are present to learn and appreciate the in attendance were several Heads learning at IDFR – Arabic, French, culture of other countries, besides of Department of the Ministry and Mandarin or Spanish – through a getting to know each other better members of the diplomatic corps of food demonstration. Among the and enjoying good food. the MTCP participating countries. food served were baklava, dim

DIPLOMATIC VOICE PROFILE OF PROMINENT PERSON

Tan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak Secretary General of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation and Former Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia

1. You retired from the civil service that we can play a proactive role Malaysian diplomats competitive in 2006 after having served as both regionally and globally. and at par with, if not better than a diplomat for 34 years. Can their foreign counterparts. However, you share your thoughts on the 2. As one who had a very awareness of all these alone is progress Malaysia has made in successful diplomatic career not enough without dedicated the international arena? and had served as the Secretary commitment by our own diplomats General of the Ministry for more to continuously improve the quality Answer than four years prior to your of their performance. Wisma I believe Malaysia’s contribution retirement, can you share some Putra itself can be instrumental, of since independence as a ideas on how our diplomats can course, in ensuring the recruitment responsible member of the further enhance their skills and of diplomats of the right calibre international community in debates become top-notched diplomats and aptitude and the provision of on major global issues including like yourself and many other logistical support, diplomatic tools Apartheid, Environment, Antartica, illustrious Malaysian diplomats? and resources necessary to enable Law of the Sea, Climate Change, our diplomats to perform their level Disarmament, Non proliferation best at the regional and international of Weapons of Mass Destruction, level to the satisfaction and pride of Sustainable Development and, in the nation. the recent years, in respect of the Global Movement of the Moderates 3. You have been the Secretary are well documented. Similarly General of the World Islamic various initiatives including the push Economic Forum (WIEF) for the membership of the ASEAN Foundation since 2008. WIEF is Ten, the establishment of the ASEAN in a position to play an important Charter plus an ASEAN Human role in economic diplomacy. Rights Body, the Declaration on the Can you tell us more about the Code of Conduct in the South China progress the Forum has made in Sea, the East Asia Summit and the fostering business relationships establishment of regional Growth among OIC member countries Triangles as well as the Langkawi and bolstering their economic International Dialogue all bear the performance? imprint of Malaysia’s unmistakable and well-recognised contributions in Answer the international arena. As we look Answer I consider it a great privilege to forward to the years ahead amidst It goes without saying that be associated with the WIEF, an various geo-political, security and acquisition of diplomatic skills and offshoot of the 2003 OIC Business economic challenges, it is important knowledge is a continuous affair and Forum, from the beginning and to that the principle of equity and justice should not stop upon graduation of be directly involved in its progress guided by international law continue relevant degrees, courses or training in various capacities since its to be the basis in the formulation programmes. With easy access establishment in 2005, first as of Malaysia’s foreign policy in the to vast and varied information a member of the International pursuit of the country’s national available now at the click of a finger, Advisory Panel, then as a member interest. I believe that economic continuous self-learning to broaden of the Board of Trustee and finally diplomacy pertaining to the growth one’s knowledge on diplomacy and Secretary General. The Forum of Islamic Finance and Banking related disciplines should be part and is now a globally recognised could be an important dimension of parcel of a diplomat’s daily life. All business and economic platform Malaysia’s foreign policy initiative these are vital ingredients to making with a wide geographical reach

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that goes beyond the membership It is always difficult to measure to serve the nation. I believe we of the OIC to encompass both the the direct outcome of training should do the same. This is where Muslim and the non-Muslim world. programmes offered to the quality of AFMA can play a meaningful role in The focus given by the Forum to diplomats produced. I believe much creating the necessary framework business and economic related progress has been achieved by IDFR with Wisma Putra’s support to issues whilst eschewing political, since its establishment in 1991, not allow for advisory services on security and religious issues, has only physically with a much better diplomacy and foreign relations to made it more acceptable worldwide and bigger complex but in terms of be provided in a more systematic and contributed significantly to its the structure, content and diversity and professional manner by the current success. Headquartered of the courses and programmes relevant ex-ambassadors. Failure in Kuala Lumpur as a Malaysian offered at the Institute. I noted the in our previous attempts to do so initiative under the patronage of the review of IDFR’s programmes and should not necessarily discourage Prime Minister and supported by the the transformation initiated recently a revisit of such a proposal for the relevant Agencies including Wisma with a view to making them more ultimate good of the nation. Putra and MITI together with the relevant in keeping with the needs of private sector, the independently our time. The successive DGs have 6. What would your advice be to run annual WIEF is fast emerging as all made their own contributions. For our junior diplomats, especially Malaysia’s contribution to promoting me personally, I am happy to see those who have just joined the global business collaboration as the logo of IDFR and the Masters Ministry? it moves from Kuala Lumpur to Programme with UKM introduced Islamabad, Kuwait, Jakarta, Astana, during my time being currently Answer London and Dubai over the last 11 retained. Our ultimate objective Rightfully, a career in the diplomatic years. Jakarta was again the host of should be to transform IDFR into service should be a preferred choice the Forum in 2016 to be followed by a globally recognised, prestigious of the officers concerned rather the Republic of Korea in 2017. The and world class Diplomatic Institute than something that happened to ever increasing popularity of the comparable to the best there is. be available. They need to have the Forum is testament to the significant right inclination, aptitude, disposition benefits enjoyed by the participants, 5. You are also a former President and mindset, accompanied by the including women and youth, from of the Association of Former knowledge, skills, competence and the wide ranging and multi-faceted Malaysian Ambassadors (AFMA). dedication to give their level best programmes offered by the WIEF. In your opinion, what can the to the foreign service. They should association do to contribute be consciously aware of their role 4. You were IDFR’s third Director towards Malaysia’s diplomacy and responsibility in preserving General, having served from and foreign relations and also to Malaysia’s good name, reputation 1997 to 1998. As IDFR celebrates assist IDFR in enhancing its core and national interest through their its 25th anniversary this year, business? conduct and performance at the how do you see the progress regional and international level. IDFR has made thus far and how Answer In short, they should continuously do you think it can improve its It is interesting to note that strive to be a good diplomat. And role to meet the ever changing the number of Malaysian ex- being a good diplomat means being challenges in the diplomatic ambassadors has now reached prepared and confident enough to world? 195 and that many are still healthy be benchmarked against the best and active. Most members would of their foreign counterparts in the Answer be happy to see AFMA focusing on Diplomatic Service.

Serving as DG of IDFR was a the improvement of their welfare Tan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak joined diversion of sort for me personally and wellbeing through get-together the Administrative and Diplomatic Service when I had to switch my career programmes that would benefit them in 1972 and his career included postings to from being a practitioner to a directly as retired ambassadors. Moscow, the Hague, Canberra, Washington, Dhaka and as Director General of IDFR. He trainer. Formulating and conducting This should continue to be an was the Secretary General of the Ministry from diplomatic training programmes can important role of AFMA. But we see 4 July 2001 to 7 January 2006. Upon retirement, be challenging when set against many countries like the US, China he was appointed the Ministry’s Ambassador at Large. In 2008, he was appointed Secretary the ever-increasing demands and and India taking advantage of their General of the World Islamic Economic Forum complexity of the diplomatic service. retired ambassadors to continue Foundation, a post he holds until today.

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The South China Sea: Award of 12 July 2016 and Beyond By Professor Dr. Vivian Louis Forbes*

THE AWARD OF 12 JULY 2016 of the Sea Convention (the 1982 exercises its rights and freedoms in In the words of Guo Weimin, Vice- Convention). Indeed, the Tribunal this sea with due regard to those of Minister of China’s State Council was constituted under Annexe VII of the Philippines. Information Office, the South China the 1982 Convention.4 Sea was China’s “ancestors’ sea”, MAJOR ISSUES ADDRESSED where arbitration “could not make The Government of China had Five major issues, summarised a wave”.1 The ‘arbitration’ that he made it abundantly clear, in its below, were addressed by the referred to was the unanimous Position Paper of 7 December Tribunal in order to compile the Award handed down, at The Hague, 20145 and in many other official oral Award contained in 501 pages. The Netherlands, on 12 July 2016, and written statements that in its by a Tribunal of the Permanent view, the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction 1. Historic Rights and the ‘Nine- Court of Arbitration (PCA).2 The on this matter. The Tribunal had Dash Line’ Map arbitration was instituted by the taken a number of steps to fulfil its The Tribunal concluded that Republic of the Philippines against duty as to whether it had jurisdiction whereas China had historic rights the People’s Republic of China. and whether the Philippines’ claims to resources within the waters of The latter was, and still is, adamant were well founded and it treated the South China Sea, such rights that it will not accept the ruling of China’s informal communications were extinguished to the extent the PCA for a myriad of reasons as equivalent to an objection to that they were incompatible and that it will pursue a peaceful jurisdiction. with the Exclusive Economic path, however defined, in resolving Zones (EEZ) provided for in the the disputes through avenues The Award addressed the issues of 1982 Convention.8 Furthermore, of diplomacy and negotiation. jurisdiction not decided in the Award there was no evidence that The Government of China did of Jurisdiction and Admissibility China had historically exercised not participate in the arbitration and the merits of the Philippines’ exclusive control over the waters which it believed was unilaterally claims over which the Tribunal had and marine features or their initiated by the Government of the jurisdiction.6 The Award is final resources, although the Tribunal Philippines on 22 January 2013 and and binding, as set out in the 1982 acknowledged the fact that that action was contrary to good Convention’s Article 296 and Article Chinese fishers and navigators, faith demonstrated, by the Parties, 11 of Annex VII.7 as well as those of other States in the ASEAN-China Declaration on – from near and afar – had the Code of Conduct of 2002 which, The then (2013) Government of the historically made use of the incidentally, is a political and not a Philippines made 15 submissions islands and reefs in the South legal document.3 in the proceedings. It requested China Sea. The Tribunal did not the Tribunal to find in addition to specify as to whether the ‘Nine- The arbitration focused on the role China’s historical and legal rights dash line’ map was legal. of historic rights and the source of to the waters and resources of maritime entitlements in the semi- the South China Sea, the status of 2. Status of the Marine Features enclosed South China Sea; the the marine features in the context The Tribunal undertook an status of certain marine features – of marine entitlements, and to insist extensive evaluation of whether namely, sand cays, islands, reefs, that China respect the rights and certain reefs claimed by China rocks and shoals – that are capable freedoms of the Philippines under (and by implication those claimed of generating maritime jurisdiction the 1982 Convention. It further by other littoral States) are above limits. Attention was also given to requested China to comply with water at High Tide and noted the lawfulness of certain actions its duties under the said Convention, that many of the reefs have been and activities undertaken by officials including those relevant to the heavily modified (geographically/ in China, that were alleged by the protection and preservation of physically transformed) by land Philippines, to violate the provisions the marine environment in this reclamation and construction. contained in the 1982 UN Law semi-enclosed sea and that it The Tribunal noted that the

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1982 Convention classifies use – referring to small groups enforcement vessels had marine features on their natural of fishers and several fishing unlawfully created a serious risk condition, and relied on historical and guano mining enterprises of collision when they physically hydrographical surveys and undertaken by Japanese in obstructed Philippine ships and charts and other documents in the past – did not constitute boats. evaluating all the features in the inhabitation by a stable context of the present dispute. community and that all of the 4. Harm to the Marine The Tribunal also considered historical economic activity had Environment whether any of the features in the been of an extractive context. Having considered the effect Spratly Group claimed by China on the marine environment could generate maritime zones In its conclusion, specifically on of China’s large-scale land beyond 12 nautical miles (M). the status of the marine features, reclamation and construction of According to the provisions of the the Tribunal argued that NONE artificial features in the Spratly 1982 Convention, in particular of the Spratly Group are capable Group since 2013, and perhaps Article 121, islands generate an of generating extended maritime even earlier, and deduced EEZ of 200M and a continental zones and that the Spratly from independent sources and shelf jurisdiction; however, rocks Group cannot generate maritime reports, which it vigorously which cannot sustain human zones collectively as a unit. This examined, that such activities habitation or economic life of included the feature known as had caused severe harm to their own are NOT entitled to an Ita Abu (or Taiping Island). It the coral reef environment EEZ or continental shelf.9 also stipulated that none of the and thereby violated China’s features claimed by China were obligations to preserve and The following were deemed capable of generating an EEZ protect the fragile ecosystems by the Tribunal to be High Tide and that the Tribunal could – and habitat of depleted, features: Cuarteron Reef, Fiery without delimiting a maritime threatened or endangered Cross Reef, Gaven Reef (North), boundary – declare that certain species. In the opinion of Johnson Reef, McKennan Reef areas are within the EEZ of the Tribunal, the Chinese and Scarborough Shoal. Another the Philippines, because those authorities were aware that the group, namely, Hughes Reef, areas are not overlapped by any Chinese fishers had harvested Mischief Reef, Second Thomas possible entitlement of China. endangered sea turtles, coral Shoal and Subi Reef were and giant clams on a substantial classified as being submerged 3. Lawfulness of Chinese Actions scale in the South China Sea at High Tide in their natural The Tribunal found that China – allegedly using methods that condition. had violated the Philippines’ EEZ inflict severe damage on the sovereign rights by: coral reef environment – and The Tribunal concluded that • Interfering with Philippine had not fulfilled their obligation the provisions noted in Article fishing and hydrocarbon to stop such activities. 121 were dependent upon the exploration and exploitation objective capacity of a feature, operations 5. Aggravation of the Dispute in its natural condition, to sustain • Constructing artificial islands On this subject matter, the either a stable community of • Failing to prevent Chinese Tribunal considered whether people or economic activity that fishers from fishing in China’s actions since the is not dependent on outside Philippines’ EEZ commencement of the arbitration resources or purely extractive (January 2013) had aggravated in nature.10 It also observed The Tribunal also acknowledged the dispute between the Parties. that the current presence of that fishers from the Philippines It found that China’s recent official personnel on many and China possessed traditional (particularly since mid-2014) of the features is dependent fishing rights at Scarborough large-scale land reclamation and on external support and NOT Shoal and that China had construction of artificial islands reflective of the capacity of interfered with these traditional was, indeed, incompatible with the features. Furthermore, the rights in restricting access. the obligations on a State during Tribunal concluded that transient It noted that Chinese law dispute resolution proceedings,

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insofar as the authorities in The Government of China generated many political ripples in China had inflicted irreparable inaugurated two airports on 14 this semi-enclosed sea. harm to the marine environment, July 2016 that it built on the Meiji constructed a large artificial (Mischief) and Zhubi (Subi) Reefs REFERENCES island in the Philippines’ EEZ, that are part of the disputed Spratly *The author is, amongst many affiliations, a and destroyed evidence of the Group in the South China Sea and Distinguished Research Fellow and Guest Professor, China Institute for Boundary and natural condition of features unveiled another airport on Yongshu Ocean Studies, Wuhan University, PRC; Adjunct in the South China Sea that (Fiery Cross) Reef in January 2016. Research Professor, NISCSS, Haikou; and, a constituted part of the Parties’ The Meiji and Zhubi Reefs are also Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia. dispute. contested by Taiwan and Vietnam, 1The Star Online, 15 July 2016. This daily and although controlled by China.12 the have devoted extensive The Tribunal acknowledged that China also indicated that it could coverage of the ongoing saga that is the South it lacked jurisdiction to consider set up an air defence zone over China Sea dispute. 2PCA’s Press Release and Award – The South the implications of the stand-off the South China Sea; that it may China Sea Arbitration of 12 July 2016. between Chinese naval and law build mobile nuclear plants on its 3ASEAN-China’s Declaration on Code of enforcement (maritime militia) artificial islands; and commence oil Conduct in the South China Sea, of 2002. 4The 1982 UN Law of the Sea Convention, 13 and Philippines’ marines at exploration. Since mid-2015 China entered into force in November 1994. China Second Thomas Shoal, noting has constructed five lighthouses and the Philippines ratified this internationally that this dispute involved military (four are operational) to enhance accepted document. 5China’s Position Paper of 7 December 2014 activities and was therefore safety to navigation. listed some points stating its objections to the excluded from compulsory ‘unilateral’ action undertaken by the Philippines. settlement. The Government of Vietnam lauded 6 Article 288 of the 1982 Convention provides the ruling of the Tribunal whilst the that: “In the event of a dispute as to whether a court or tribunal has jurisdiction, the matter shall REPORTED ACTIONS AND Government of Taiwan rejected be settled by decision of that court or tribunal”. COMMENTS: 12 to 17 July 2016 the decision especially as Ita Abu 7See the 1982 UN Law of the Sea Convention’s The ruling, which enhances the 1982 is Taiwan’s sole possession in the Article 296 and Annex VII. 8Refer to the Articles on the EEZ and Continental Convention standing in international disputed zone. The Governments Shelf contained in the 1982 Convention. law, is binding to both China of Indonesia, as with that of 9Refer to Article 121 of the 1982 Convention. and the Philippines. Chinese Malaysia, has urged all parties 10Independent experts were appointed by the Tribunal to report on technical matters and to Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu involved in the dispute to exercise obtain historical records and hydrographical Kang reiterated China’s policy and self-restraint and respect applicable survey data from Archives in England and hinted that ASEAN had put forward international law. Within days of France. 11 a dual-track proposal. However, the Award being in the public ‘ASEAN Keeps mum on issue’, New Straits Times, Friday 15 July 2016, p.24. ASEAN had prepared a draft text domain, the Government of China 12The official Chinese daily Global Times but there was no agreement to issued its White Paper and a announced on Twitter on Thursday 14 July release a joint statement. There brochure on the dispute. The 2016. 13‘Air defence zone an option’; ‘Beijing mulls is concern that China is allegedly Government of the Philippines nuke plants in Spratly’, , 15 & 16 July trying to cause a rift in ASEAN hardened its stance whilst 2016, respectively. through its allies (Cambodia, Laos stating that it would send former and Myanmar) on the South China President Fidel Ramos to China Sea dispute.11 for discussions. The Award has

The Turkish Cauldron By Syed Nizamuddin Sayed Khassim

Kissinger and Huntington often History too is often reflected on the of Turkish politics is a mirror of its reflect on the historical narratives of architectural landscape it embraced, Leviathan metropoles. From the nations and civilizations to pre-empt leaving clues and details on what bowels of Istanbul’s hidden cisterns the moves of political actors on the one can expect from the future. to the intersecting Metro tunnels global stage. “History,” Kissinger of Ankara, one is hard-pressed to said, “is the memory of the States”. One can say that the intricacies find the beginning or the end of the

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complexities. Lights and shadows out, the recent clash sending existence long before. However, danced in the amniotic silence of Turkey to the brink of regime an acknowledgement is different Istanbul’s hidden labyrinths, blurring change is not so much between the from an elimination. Ever since, the lines between right and wrong. secularists and Islamists, but rather from President Demirel to President Formed by centuries of palace – a clash between two factions of Erdogan: the threat from within, coups, rebellions, assassinations Turkish Islamist ideal: Gulenists vs known as the Deep State, has and putsches – dark scars on Erdoganists. This write-up does not always been acknowledged. the Turkish political history were pose to uncover the power players immortalised unto the granites of behind the recent failed putsch, but Erdogan too shared a fair amount history, sadly inherited by the new it will attempt to introduce the main of threat from the Deep State, generation. ingredients broiling within Turkish manifested in the form of Ergenekon political cauldron. – a clandestine ultra-nationalist The recent putsch attempt in secularist faction that works not Turkey has brought Turkish politics ‘The Deep State (Derin Devlet)’ unlike the ÖHD during the time into the fore of global discussion Embedded in Turkish politics of Ecevit. Over 500 people were once again. However, instead of since the times of the Ottoman is arrested and more than 300 were featuring the nuances of Turkish the existence of the ‘Deep State’, officially charged. politics – the media, particularly which refers to an institution or those from the West, simplified internal organ, as well as a cabal While Erdogan did candidly highlight the different factions of Turkish of powerful people who control the the problem of the Deep State and politics into that of ‘Erdogan vs apparatus of the State and does tried to expunge them during the anti-Erdogan’ factions. Also guilty not respond to the civilian rule. Ergenekon purge, the blame for the in their reductionist portrayal of The ‘Deep State’ system controls recent failed coup was heaved on events were the hardcore Erdogan Ottoman Turkey during the First another clandestine structure – the sympathisers, who see no harm and World War, manifested in the form Parallel State. sin could be committed by the ruling of the ‘Three Pashas’ who govern Justice and Development Party with the Sultan’s name. ‘The Gulenists, the Parallel State (AKP). and the Imamin Ordusu’ An idealist might expect that the Long before the recent coup Between these two reduction-esque new form of governance introduced attempt, Erdogan has repeatedly portrayals of events, the reality of by Kemal Ataturk will remove the claimed that the Parallel State is Turkish politics remains concealed catharsis within the Ottoman system undermining his rule in Turkey. from global scrutiny. Questions that is the ‘Deep State’ – but the But what exactly is the Parallel on the legitimacy of the State, its system continues, and with much State? To understand this – one apparatus, contrasting factions gusto during the Cold War. Much needs to understand the forced within the government machinery like how the Deep State system implementation of secularism in and the civil society became the controlled the Sultan, the ultra- Turkey. volatile and divisive nature of the nationalist and secularist Special foundation of Turkish politics. Warfare Department (Özel Harp On 5 February 1937, laïcité or secularism was explicitly stated Indeed, most of the terms used Dairesi, or ÖHD) keeps its hands in the second article of the then in the Western media and local around the neck of civilian-elected Turkish Constitution. Unlike the commentaries lack the proper depth Presidents during the Cold War. The passive form of secularism practised and nuance. Deep State – heavily centralised within the Anglo-American sphere, within the military was responsible secularism in Turkey tailors the French Often, if not always – the arguments for the coups that kicked various aggressive model of secularism. In will be simplified as a mere clash democratically-elected Presidents Turkey, this is officially known as between the ‘secularists’ and out from the office. the ‘active neutrality’ of the country ‘Islamists’. The problem with such with regard to religious matters. As argument is that Erdogan is now It was not until 1974 that the such, the heavily secularised State scapegoating the ‘other’ Islamist structure of the Deep State was machinery will act upon political faction in Turkey, the Gulenists for revealed officially to the public by parties that tried to ‘redefine the the recent coup attempt. As Mustafa Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit1 – secular nature of the republic’. The Akyol, a journalist, recently pointed although many suspected of its forgone conclusion is the closure

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of several political parties with the secularists within Turkey’s coup – a false flag operation in religious leaning, including the government machinery3. The order to cement his grip over the Virture Party, a progenitor of the ruling closeted Gulenists or sympathisers State’s machinery. In essence, AKP. to the Gulen movement were given Erdogan might have created his the moniker the Imam’s Army own ‘alternate state’ to complete his In an environment hostile to religious or Imamin Ordusu by the weary hold over the Turkish government expression, the teachings of Said secularists within the society. machinery. Nursi gained currency. Nursi’s teachings were highly spiritual and Mustafa Akyol succinctly pointed As always, trying to figure out complemented the spiritual needs out that while Gulenists and the truth in such a highly-political of Muslims during the rule of Kemal Erdoganists hold different Islamic situation is akin to finding a single Ataturk. Seeing the removal of Islam world view, they found comfort grain within the chasm of Bosporus. from the state machinery, he saw it within each other’s presence Much like the labyrinth embedded as a chance to truly understand the during AKP’s early years in power within the bowels of Istanbul that teachings of Islam sans the tinted – glued together by the threat of never ceases to bedazzle, charm glass of politics. Highly principled in hostile secular segment within the and snare travellers abroad – so his abhorrence towards politics, he government machinery – particularly is that of Turkish politics. Like its rejected an offer by Kemal Ataturk the military. metropoles that harbour layers of himself to be one of the religious cisterns, caverns and tunnels that officials within the newly-minted However, things started to turn used to breathe of power, richness ‘Ministry of Religious Affairs’. This downhill after the 2013 corruption and mere survival – so is the led to his tumultuous relationship scandal in Turkey – where many dynamics of Turkish politics. with the government. people who were connected to the AKP were apprehended by the Former Turkish President Suleyman Nursi’s teachings could be simplified state machinery under the charges Demirel used to say that “humour is into two main tenets: the ‘mânevî of corruption. With the high number like a punch, you can’t know who it jihad’ or ‘jihad through words’, of Gulenists within the government will hit or when.” One cannot help and positive action, as well as the machinery – the AKP turned against but wonder if Turkish politics is a promotion of interfaith dialogues. its ally-turn-enemy. The ruling dark divine comedy. Despite his emphasis on non- government wasted no time in violence, the nascent State became declaring the Gulenists as saboteurs ENDNOTES 1 highly weary of his popularity2. It was only revealed much later that an and branded them as the ‘Parallel attempted assassination against Ecevit in 1977 State’, or a state within a state that was orchestrated by the Deep State (at that time After his death, another scholar by runs parallel with the democratically centralised in the Counter-Guerilla branch of the the name of Fethullah Gulen came elected government. It is now seen military) – due to political differences. 2Indeed, so weary was the extreme secularist to the fore. Heavily influenced by as a religiously-inclined version of faction within military of his influence that they Nursi, the movement shied away the secularist Deep State. desecrated his grave after a military coup from direct political engagement. d’état in 1960 – hiding his body away from his While Erdogan’s “National View” venerators. Attempted Coup d’état of 2016 3In 2011, a Turkish investigative journalist by the (Milli Gorus) tradition of political On 15 July 2016, an attempt to stage name of Ahmed Sik was named as one of the Islam is combative, Gulenists a coup d’état was made by a faction conspirators of the Ergenekon plot. Prior to his are focused more on universal arrest, he was a few steps away from ‘exposing within the Turkish Armed Forces. the evidences’ of Gulenists’ infiltration within issues pertaining to morality and While the coup failed to materialise, the State system. The title of his expose is the spirituality. Nonetheless, there was Erdogan was quick to turn against Imamin Ordusu (the Imam’s Army). a concerted effort by the Gulenists Gulenists – or the ‘Parallel State’ Syed Nizamuddin Sayed Khassim is an officer to transform the hostile secular as he called them. Little evidence with the Multilateral Economics and Environment state – by gradually joining the has surfaced or brought to light, but Division, Department of Multilateral Affairs, ranks of the state machinery. While the purge continues like clockwork Ministry of Foreign Affairs. this is highly speculated, no clear – not unlike the purge against the evidence could pinpoint towards the Deep State during the Ergenekon infiltration agenda. This was seen trial. In response, Fethullah Gulen as the beginning of the ‘parallel who is now in exile, accused the state’ that serves to counterbalance Turkish President of staging the

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Discourse on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement By Norhidayah Md Raziap and Sarah Zahirah Ruhama

On 28 April 2016, IDFR and the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) hosted a round table discussion under the Economic Diplomacy Series on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) at IDFR. The panellists were Datuk J. Jayasiri, Deputy Secretary General (Strategy and Monitoring), Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Malaysia’s Chief Negotiator to the TPPA; Dr. Zulkiply Omar, Senior Research Fellow at the Malaysian agreements in compliance with the Dr. Zulkiply then shared his Institute of Economic Research; and International Labour Organisation analysis of Malaysia’s trade and H.E. Carlos Isauro Felix Corona, Declaration 1998. Three multilateral export. Malaysia’s export to its Ambassador of Mexico to Malaysia. environmental agreements (MEAs) top trading partners, namely, The round table discussion seeks to made enforceable by the TPPA mark Singapore, the US, Japan and bring about greater understanding another departure for Malaysia. China is highly concentrated on and knowledge on the much- selected commodities such as debated free trade agreement that What does Malaysia stand to electrical and electronic goods as was signed in February this year. gain from the TPPA? Four new well as machinery and furniture. preferential access to markets in Manufacturing of electrical and According to Datuk J. Jayasiri, the US, Canada, Mexico and Peru electronic goods involves regional the TPPA presents new areas for will now be open to Malaysia. By production networks and global Malaysia such as government assuming the obligations under the value chain as Malaysia requires a procurement, labour, environment investment chapter, Malaysia has a lot of intermediary inputs to produce and state-owned enterprises reasonable chance to attract more the exported final products. Dr. excluded from Malaysia’s past foreign direct investments (FDIs) Zulkiply said that it is best for free trade agreements (FTAs). and to ensure the current investors Malaysia to lessen its dependency Under the TPPA, Malaysia will be in the country stay and expand on intermediary input in order to undertaking a few key commitments their operations. With new rules gain more value. for the first time. Comprehensive now outlined for 21st century issues liberalisation of goods and services such as e-commerce, the TPPA Dr. Zulkiply also drew attention to will eliminate pockets of sectoral or is a game-changer as it creates the need to review the economic product exclusions often found in a platform for digital trade which structure to better link trade and Malaysia’s past FTAs. The threshold can be leveraged by developing industrial policies synchronously. for liberalisation is also higher under countries like Malaysia. He strongly believed that Malaysia the TPPA. can benefit from the TPPA’s non- Datuk J. Jayasiri also emphasised tariff measures such as reforms in Another big move for Malaysia is the need for capacity building for labour, commodity, operation and the opening up of the government small and medium enterprises as efficiency. procurement market. This is a well as Bumiputera enterprises, major concession and departure and highlighted the need for civil According to H.E. Felix Corona, the from Malaysia’s policy to keep its servants to be equipped with final panellist, Mexico is certainly government procurement market basic facts and obligations of the not new to FTAs. In 1991, Mexico closed. Malaysia is also expected to agreement as they will be its future joined the US and Canada to form amend ten of its labour chapters and implementers. the NAFTA. To Mexico, the TPPA

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is a natural extension to its Malaysian products that can benefit the country can better reap the existing network of FTAs as it under the TPPA, which include benefits that such an agreement seeks bigger presence in Australia, automotive products, machinery offers. He also pointed to structural Brunei, Malaysia, New Zealand, equipment and rubber products. reforms as crucial to provide Singapore and Vietnam. H.E. the conditions for companies to Corona drew attention to the fact Sharing some of the lessons Mexico compete better. that through the TPPA, Malaysia gained from the NAFTA, H.E. will also have access to the other Corona emphasised the need to The round table discussion attracted 45 countries that Mexico already prepare different sectors to compete the participation of government has a free trade agreement with in a globalized economy. It is crucial officials, members of the diplomatic and can leverage on Mexico’s for businesses to be prepared corps, officials from business connection with North America and to leave their comfort zone and chambers and academicians Latin America, specifically its trade adopt a new mentality of doing interested in the topic. bloc, the Pacific Alliance. business. There is also a vital need to invest in human capital, H.E. Corona also highlighted a few technology and innovation so that

ASEAN Ambassador Lecture Series: Vietnam By Norhidayah Md Raziap

wants, and focuses more on the welfare of the people. The external dimension, on the other hand, emphasizes on the external threats or factors affecting a country. It is the state’s ability to protect against attack on its sovereign affairs and the absence of fear that such values will be attacked. The two parameters commonly used to measure economic security are trade and investment. With the increased engagement of developing countries with the On 28 May 2016, IDFR organised growing economies in Southeast global economy, this has become a a lecture under its ASEAN Asia. This was achieved despite the salient dimension to be addressed. Ambassador Lecture Series. The recent challenges and instability Vietnam considers both dimensions lecture titled Vietnam’s Economic in the global economy. How does as important and applicable to Security was presented by H.E. this then translate to Vietnam’s them, and tries to develop a new Pham Cao Phong, the Ambassador economic security and what are the concept of economic security that of Vietnam to Malaysia. The Lecture issues and challenges for Vietnam includes both. Series is one of IDFR’s flagship in relation to this? discourses which aim to strengthen When it comes to issues and ties with fellow ASEAN countries H.E. Pham began by enlightening challenges in economic security, and discuss recent issues in the the audience on the two schools H.E Pham mentioned several region. of thought in economic security; issues. The first one is poverty and one, emphasizing the internal or hunger. In 2015, about 5 per cent The steady and vibrant economic human dimension, and the other, of the Vietnamese households growth in Vietnam at more than on the external dimension. The are still considered poor. They are 6 per cent per annum has placed internal or human dimension is the mainly from the ethnic minorities the country as one of the fastest ability to satisfy people’s needs and living in remote areas. Due to

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their remote location, the ethnic issues from the internal dimension on Sustainable Eradication of minorities have poor access to like poverty and hunger. However, Poverty 2016-2020. To ensure public and welfare services such as there are challenges in integration economic security from the external healthcare and education. Poverty with the world economy: one is dimension, Vietnam with the newly- arises from various factors such as securing foreign direct investments; elected National Assembly will start low income, traditional custom, low two is securing domestic markets; the ratification process of TPPA levels of educational attainment, and three is the threat of the at the Assembly’s first session. as well as ecological damage to foreign direct investments itself. Vietnam has also actively poor agricultural management. The Nevertheless, these three participated in bilateral and result of poverty eradication effort challenges will not hinder Vietnam regional free trade agreements is not good enough and important from joining the economic bloc as such as the ASEAN Economic income gaps still remain. competition and cooperation are Community (AEC) and the Regional mutually reinforcing. Comprehensive Economic The second issue is economic Partnership (RCEP). integration with the world economy. H.E. Pham further explained that H.E. Pham acknowledged this as various consistent efforts have H.E. Pham concluded the lecture a controversial issue as it involves been taken by the government with the view that remaining the country’s sovereignty but at to ensure economic security in underdeveloped is the greatest the same time, it is to be balanced Vietnam. The country aims to threat to Vietnam’s national security. with commitments made with other reduce the number of poor Therefore, economic security countries. Given the current world households at a rate of 1 to 1.5 becomes an important factor in situation, it is vital for Vietnam to per cent per year under two the country’s comprehensive plan. integrate as it is not only pertinent programmes; Programme for Quick It is also important as it creates to the external dimension of and Sustainable Eradication of conditions favourable for enhancing economic security but can also Poverty in 61 Poor Districts and national defence and its military be one of the measures to solve Programme on National Targets capacity.

Public Lecture on The United States and China in an Era of Uncertainty By Siti Farsha Murni Izami

IDFR, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaya jointly organised a public lecture titled The United States and China in an Era of Uncertainty on 28 June 2016. The guest speaker was Professor Dr. David M. Lampton, Director of SAIS-China and China Studies at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, who also served as Dean of Faculty from 2004 to 2012. The session was attended by former Malaysian situation and context in US-China Along with the changes are also diplomats, representatives from relations and how the dynamic of issues interconnected to power various ministries, students from the relations has changed over and security. There was a good local universities, and several the years. The changes have exchange of views and interaction politicians. been from the economic, political, between the speaker and the and diplomatic aspects. This is guests, and Professor Lampton In his deliberation, Professor related as well to the leaderships was forthright in responding to the Lampton highlighted the current in both countries throughout time. comments and questions.

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MTCP: Crisis Management Course for International Participants 2016 By Sarah Zahirah Ruhama

participants visited Malacca to discover the unique blend of cultures in Malaysia.

A Closing and Certificate Presentation Ceremony was held on 24 May 2016. Datuk Salman Ahmad, IDFR’s Director General, delivered the Closing Remarks and presented the certificate of attendance to the participants. The class representative, Ms. Maria As an integral part of international Eighteen participants from 16 Kristina Bernadette C. Mojica of relations, crisis management is countries underwent 14 days of the Philippines delivered their vote the ability of individuals and states training covering various issues of thanks. Also in attendance at the to respond to challenges with including national and international ceremony were H.E. Alpha Diallo, strategies and policy choices that security, international humanitarian Ambassador of the Republic of would enable them to overcome issues and challenges, scenario Guinea to Malaysia; H.E. Dato’ Dr. present threats and dangers, planning and future studies, Anwar H. Al Agha, Ambassador of and turn them around for future environment and energy crisis, the State of Palestine to Malaysia; betterment. Therefore, it is maritime diplomacy, counter- H.E. Başak Türkoğlu, Ambassador important for diplomats to acquire terrorism and crisis negotiations. of the Republic of Turkey to the techniques and skills required The participants were from Malaysia; Mr. Beh Ching Chye, to assess and manage a crisis Bhutan, Cambodia, Egypt, the Principal Assistant Secretary of situation as well as to prevent the Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Lao the International Cooperation recurrence of similar crisis in the PDR, Malawi, Malaysia, Palestine, and Development Division, future. the Philippines, Seychelles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; as Swaziland, Turkey, Uzbekistan well as Minister Counsellors and In line with this, IDFR organised and Vietnam. Embassy Representatives of the a Crisis Management Course participating countries. for International Participants Designed to be practical with FEEDBACK 2016 course from 11 to 24 May talks, discussions and simulation The course covered a wide range of issues 2016. The course, funded by the exercises, the course encouraged including financial crisis, environmental Malaysian Technical Cooperation active participation and exchange crisis and aviation crisis. The visits to different institutions opened our eyes to Programme (MTCP), is designed of information between the what Malaysia has to offer to the world. to provide insights on theories, participants. Throughout the Due to the diverse background of the strategies, elements and issues course, the participants gained a participants, we also learned from each related to international crisis glimpse of Malaysia’s experience other. management as well as to enhance in managing its foreign policy, I would like to thank IDFR for organising the knowledge and skills in the various economy and development course and in particular, for inviting Bhutan approaches and techniques in matters, and were exposed to to participate. The learning from this course will be very useful for me personally and the managing crisis. The course is various crisis management skills country if we are faced with crisis situations. the third MTCP programme held such as scenario planning, strategic at IDFR this year, following a thinking, crisis negotiations, and diplomatic training course for public diplomacy. Mr. Pema Tobgay junior diplomats held in March and Desk Officer, Department of Multilateral a special workshop on ASEAN for Under the introduction to state- Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Bhutan Lao PDR officials in April. level governance module, the

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Diploma in Diplomacy 2016: Activities from May to July 2016 By Imran Ariff Muhammad Amin

By the end of July, the participants had completed five months or approximately 450 learning hours of the programme. The programme’s modules transitioned from the administrative and service matters to substantive areas related to diplomacy, economy, law, media and diplomacy, public diplomacy, culture, soft skills, crisis management, security, and negotiation skills. English and Foreign Language classes were also progressing smoothly during the last three months.

The participants also successfully completed five group projects, namely, three panel discussions on Trade and Industry, Ministry of Ms. Deborah Henry, Miss Universe economy, celebrity diplomacy and Energy, Green Technology and Malaysia 2011; and Mr. Suhaimi security respectively; a corporate Water, Ministry of Domestic Trade Sulaiman, a seasoned journalist. and social responsibility programme and Consumer Affairs, Malaysian The session was moderated with the Prison Department Investment Development Authority by another DiD participant, Azri of Malaysia; and a state level and Malaysian Productivity Hazwani Abdul Aziz. In attendance governance visit to the Selangor Corporation. The session discussed were representatives from the State government office. the development of the petroleum Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry industry, including its contribution to of Women, Family and Community The panel discussion on economy Malaysia’s economic development Development; Faculty of Arts and with the title Petroleum in the and global growth. The session Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya; World Economy was held on 17 further deliberated on the strategic Faculty of Administrative Science May 2016. The panellists were measures in addressing various and Policy Studies, Universiti Encik Abd Rahim Mahmood, Head challenges faced by the petroleum Teknologi MARA; Department of of Strategic Research, Corporate industry such as its existing Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Strategy, Petroliam Nasional operations and coping with the Taylor’s University; and the New Berhad (PETRONAS); YM Tengku high costs in the current economic Straits Times Press.The panel Muhammad Taufik, Executive situation. The discussion also looked discussion deliberated on celebrities’ Director, Pricewaterhouse Coopers into the alternative use of renewable roles in promoting Malaysia’s Capital Sdn Bhd; and Dr. Mohd energy which could possibly replace image and interests internationally Yusof Saari, Head of Quantitative petroleum in the future. and discussed the credible use Methods for Policy Analysis, Faculty of celebrity forms of activism in of Economics and Management, The second panel discussion titled international political affairs. The Universiti Putra Malaysia. The Celebrity Diplomacy: Innovations in panellists examined the meaning of session was moderated by Ms. Diplomatic Practices was held on 31 celebrity diplomacy and whether it Nurul Syaza Azlisha, one of the DiD May 2016. It was deliberated by four is relevant to Malaysia. The session participants. In attendance were panellists: Ms. Astanah Abdul Aziz, also focused on the possible role of representatives from the Ministry of Deputy Director General, ASEAN- Malaysia’s celebrities and explored Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning Malaysia National Secretariat; Che possible practices. Unit, Ministry of International Puan Sarimah Ibrahim, TV host;

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Another highlight of the programme the state government office in Infrastructure and Smart Waste was the corporate and social state administration, stimulating Management. The visit to the responsibility programme with the the state’s economic growth, State Government Office ended Prison Department of Malaysia infrastructure development and at the Selangor State Legislative on 30 June 2016. The one-day delivery of services to the public. Assembly where the participants had programme at Penjara Wanita The participants had the opportunity a session with the State Legislative Kajang started with the participants to pay a courtesy call to Dato’ Seri Assembly Speaker, Ms. Hannah cooking bubur lambuk (rice porridge Mohamed Azmin Ali, the Selangor Yeoh. Ms. Yeoh elaborated on the normally consumed during fasting Chief Minister. Dato’ Seri then functions of the State Legislative month) with the help of prison staff. shared his insights into the current Assembly of Selangor and the The activity was also attended by challenges in Malaysia’s foreign reforms that were introduced by the parolees as part of their intervention policy and advised the participants government, which put the state’s programme before reintegrating to enhance their knowledge and interests first and promote healthy into the society. This was followed skills in promoting Malaysia’s debates between different political by a briefing on aspects related to image abroad. He elaborated on representatives. In the afternoon transfer of prisoners to and from our the various programmes carried before heading back to IDFR, the country. The programme concluded out by the state government as participants visited Galeri Diraja after the participants distributed the well as the need to empower civil Sultan Abdul Aziz in Klang where bubuk lambuk. servants to help generate greater the participants were exposed to growth for Selangor and Malaysia. the life of the late Sultan Salahuddin Concluding the activities in July The participants were later briefed Abdul Aziz Shah. was the study visit to the Selangor by Mr. Mohd Yazid Sairi from the State Government Office, which State Economic Planning Unit May, June, and July were hectic is part of the programme’s State on Smart Selangor Programme, months for the participants. The DiD Level Governance Module. The which highlights various initiatives programme will end on 9 September visit enabled the participants such as Smart Governance, 2016 and the graduation ceremony to understand the function of Smart Development, Smart Digital will be held on 15 September 2016.

Upcoming Programmes*

IDFR Lecture Series 2/2016: 18 August 2016 South China Sea Dispute: Post Arbitration and Beyond by Professor Dr. Vivian Louis Forbes

Master of Social Science in Strategy and Diplomacy 2016/2017 5 September 2016-30 September 2017

Arabic Level I 20 September-29 November 2016

Effective Presentation Skills 2/2016 26-29 September 2016

Effective Writing Skills 2/2016 10-13 October 2016

Pre-Posting Orientation Course for Home-Based Staff and Spouses 10-21 October 2016 under SPKM Series 5/2016

International Negotiation Workshop Series 1/2016 14-16 November 2016

Workshop on Intercultural Communication 15-17 November 2016

Palestinian Solidarity Day 29 November 2016

Human Rights Day 2016 8 December 2016

*Subject to change. Please refer to www.idfr.gov.my for any changes.

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