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1 VOL 2/2019 - JULY - DECEMBER IN THIS EDITION: Main Highlights 1 Visits to Canberra 5 Outreach & Engagements 8 Courtesy Calls 12 Activities at Mission 13 ASEAN Committee Canberra 15 PERWAKILAN Canberra 17 Working Visit by YB Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs to Australia Congratulations 19 29 November - YB Dato’ Strategic Partnership and Saifuddin Abdullah, discussed various pertinent News in Australia 20 Minister of Foreign Affairs issues in bilateral relations made a Working Visit to and current regional and Policy in Malaysia 21 Australia to attend the 2nd global developments. Both Australia-Malaysia Foreign Foreign Ministers also Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) signed an Agreement on Contact Us: in Sydney. Film Co-Production. A The FMM, co-chaired by Joint Statement highlighting A: 7 Perth Avenue, Senator the Hon. Marise the outcome of the Yarralumla, ACT 2600 Payne, Minister for Foreign Meeting, was issued:- T: (02) 6120 0300 / 310 Affairs and Minister for ((https://www.kln.gov.my/ Women and YB Dato’ web/guest/-/joint- E: [email protected] Saifuddin Abdullah, statement-2nd-australia- [email protected] reviewed the progress of malaysia-annual-foreign- W: http://www.kln.gov.my/web the 2015 Australia-Malaysia ministers-meeting-29- /aus_canberra Joint Declaration of november-2019) 2 During the joint Press Conference, Minister Payne announced Malaysia as the 2020 focus country for Australia’s flagship public diplomacy programme “Australia now”. The program is a celebration of Australia delivered annually in a country or region of strategic significance. The year-long program, emphasising closer partnership and exchange will celebrate existing vibrant bilateral partnerships and strengthen connections between the people, places and institutions of both countries. Apart from the 2nd FMM, YB Dato’ Saifuddin also held a roundtable at the Lowy Institute on the topic: "Negotiating a new era of superpower rivalry in Asia: In the context of the Foreign Policy Framework of the New Malaysia" followed by an interview, which was published in theinterpreter (https://www.lowyinstitute.org/t he-interpreter/conversation- malaysias-foreign-minister- great-power-rivalry). He also had an engagement session with students and the Malaysian diaspora in Sydney. 2 National Day Reception 19 September - More than 300 guests attended the 62nd National Day Reception held at Rumah Malaysia. Ms. Kate Logan, Chief of Protocol presented the official toast on behalf of the Australian Government. In her speech, H.E. Dato’ Sudha Devi highlighted developments in Malaysia as well as the main areas of cooperation in Malaysia- Australia relations. Guests enjoyed Malaysian delicacies such as rendang, satay, nasi minyak and a variety of traditional Malaysian kuih-muih prepared by PERWAKILAN Canberra. 4 19 October - The doors of the High Commission were opened to the public from 10 am to 4 pm. In promoting Visit Malaysia 2020, the theme for the event was ‘Jendela Malaysia: A peek into vibrant Malaysia’. The highlights of the event were Perarakan Bersanding and traditional dance and silat. The fun-filled day included an exhibition on Malaysia’s history and traditional crafts, demonstration of ketupat Windows to the World is an weaving as well as event organised by the ACT activities for children – Government to promote the colouring (batik), games unique and diverse culture of such as batu seremban foreign countries through the and congkak. Various participation of Embassies and sumptuous Malaysian High Commissions in Canberra. food was also on sale, The event has been held every including the king of fruits alternate year since 2013, in - Musang King. conjunction with the annual Floriade Festival held in the month of October. 5 VISITS TO C ANBERRA 18th Australia-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee Meeting & Trade and Investment Mission 18-23 August - The 18th Australia-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) Meeting and the Trade and Investment Mission to Adelaide and Melbourne was led by YB Minister of International Trade & Industry, Datuk Darell Leiking. The JTC discussed a wide range of topics from bilateral trade and investment to opportunities for future collaboration. The Trade Mission to Adelaide and Melbourne provided the delegation a platform for business networking and exposure to Australian investors. 22nd Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering Annual Meeting 18-23 August - The Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering is an inter-governmental organisation that is focused on ensuring effective implementation of the international standards by its 41 Member Countries against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing related to weapons of mass destruction. Since its establishment in 1997, the APG has grown considerably and is part of a global network of similar bodies, referred to as Financial Action Task Force-Style Regional Bodies. This year, the APG on Money Laundering held its meeting in Canberra. Malaysia was represented by representatives from various agencies related to the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) to Money Laundering such as BNM, Attorney General’s Chamber (AGC), Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNKK), Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Registry of Societies (ROS), Securities Commission (SC), Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) and Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA). 6 Working Visit by YB Dato’ Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, Deputy Minister of Primary Industries 26-28 August - YB Dato' Seri Shamsul's visit to Canberra was at the invitation of the Australian National University (ANU), to deliver a speech on ‘Reform in Malaysia’s Primary Industries under the new Government’ on 27 August 2019. He also had an interview with New Mandala, an ANU publication on current Southeast Asian affairs. A session with Malaysian students and diaspora was also held in the evening of 27 August, where YB Dato’ Seri Shamsul held a dialogue on the Government’s initiative on the palm oil campaign and current political developments under the PH Government. A total of 20 students were also appointed as Palm Oil Ambassadors to assist in creating greater awareness among their student peers on the efforts by Malaysia’s palm oil industry in countering the misperception on palm oil. 2nd Malaysia-Australia High Level Committee on Defence Cooperation 25 September - YB Mohamad bin Sabu, Minister of Defence led an eight-member delegation, which included Chief of Defence Force, General Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Panglima Haji Zulkifli Haji Zainal Abidin to the 2nd Malaysia-Australia High Level Committee on Defence Cooperation in Canberra. The one-day visit programme included briefings on cyber security at the Australian Cyber Security Centre; Ceremonial Honour Guard; informal session with military cadets and seconded officers; and a visit to the Australia’s War Memorial where both ministers as well as the Chief Defence Forces laid wreaths during the Last Post Ceremony. The Joint Statement issued after the meeting can be accessed at :- (https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/st atements/malaysia-australia-joint-statement-defence- cooperation) 7 Working Visit by YB Senator Khairul Azwan Harun and YB Senator Adrian Lasimbang 26 August - The visit by both Senators was part of a Working Visit as members of the Malaysian Senate Reform Committee. The programme in Canberra involved several meetings with officials at the Parliament House. In addition, YB Senator Azwan was also invited by the Australian National University (ANU) to speak on the challenges and opportunities facing UMNO as an Opposition Party. Working Visit by the delegation from Public Service Department 8-11 December - YBhg. Dato’ Suhaime Mahbar, Deputy Director General, Public Service Department led a delegation on a benchmarking visit to study Australia's experience in developing its public service law. The delegation had meetings with the Australian Public Service Commission and Department of Finance. HBS of the High Commission also took the opportunity to engage with YBhg. Dato’ Suhaime Mahbar at the Chancery in the morning of 9 December 2019. Working Visit by the Native Courts of Sarawak 10-13 December - A delegation from the Native Courts of Sarawak was in Canberra to study and gather information on the Australian legal system in the recognition and interest of native/indigenous culture, traditions and customary rights particularly on land matters. The delegation also learned about the management of indigenous courts within the Australian legal system, known as the Koori Courts. 8 OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENTS National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week 2019 8 July - High Commissioner Dato’ Sudha Devi attended an opening of the NAIDOC week hosted by Secretary Frances Adamson at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on 8 July 2019. The highlight at the reception was the musical performance by Gawurra Gaykamangu, a Yolngu professional performing artist hailing from North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Guests were also entertained by a special performance by Torres Strait Islander dance troupes, native artists Kara Buia and Eip Karem Beizam during the opening ceremony. MASCA Meet and Greet 5 August - A meet and greet event organised by Malaysian Students' Council of Australia (MASCA) ACT was held on 5 August 2019 at the Australian National University (ANU). It was attended by officials from the High Commission and Malaysian students studying