Verity - UPH Journal of International Relations Faculty of Social and Political Science Pelita Harapan University MALAYSIA AND MAHATHIR IN THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE Sigit WASEDA University, Japan Email: [email protected] ABSTRAK Tujuan paper ini adalah untuk menganalisis kebijakan Mahathir melalui perspektif sejarah terhadap perkembangan politik dan tantangan di Malaysia. Selain itu, Penulis menggunakan data sekunder untuk mengumpulkan berbagai literatur terkait dengan topik tersebut. Kembalinya Mahathir Muhammad, Bapak Modernisasi Malaysia, dalam Pemilihan Umum ke-14 setelah meninggalkan panggung politik lebih dari satu dekade telah menarik perhatian masyarakat global. Sebagai kritikus pada korupsi dan kemunduran ekonomi Malaysia, dia memutuskan untuk maju dalam pemilihan umum sekali lagi. Selama pemerintahan sebelumnya, Mahathir dengan proyek megah yaitu Pembangunan Putra Jaya dan kebijakan luar negerinya, terkenal dengan “Look East Policy” menjadi bagian dari identitasnya. Kebijakan “Look East Policy” dikembangkan untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi domestik dan karena Malaysia perlu belajar dan mengadopsi budaya dari Jepang dan Korea, seperti kedisiplinan dan kerja keras. Melalui Kebijakan tersebut, Malaysia telah melakukan kerjasama dengan negara Timur (Jepang dan Korea). Selain itu, Mahathir menolak penerapan nilai-nilai Barat dan menganggap bahwa nilai Barat tidak sesuai dengan Asia. Negara-negara Barat menganggap Mahathir sebagai penghalang persatuan negara Barat dengan negara Asia sejak berkembangnya paham “Asian Values” pada tahun 1990an. Secara Keseluruhan, paper ini berpendapat bahwa Mahathir hanya fokus kepada kepentingan dan kedaulatan negaranya dan menjaga eksistensi Malaysia di dunia internasional. Kata kunci: Mahathir, Nilai Asia, Kebijakan Melihat ke Timur, Malaysia ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to analyze Mahathir’s policy through a historical approach to the political developments and challenges in Malaysia. In addition, the author uses secondary data in order to collect several resources related to the topic. The comeback of Mahathir Mohammad, the Father of Malaysian modernization, in the Malaysian 14th general election after leaving the political stage for more than a decade draws many global eyes. As the great critics of the corruption and downturn of Malaysian economic conditions, he decided to run in Malaysia once again. During his previous administration, his mega-project named Pembangunan Putra Jaya and his famous foreign policy “Look East Policy” became a part of his identity. The “Look East Policy” was developed in order to increase domestic economic growth and because Malaysia needed to learn and adopt cultural features from Japan and Korea, such as discipline and hard work. Through this policy, Malaysia began cooperating with East countries (Japan and Korea). In addition, Mahathir had been opposing Western values and deemed them incompatible with Asia. The West considers Mahathir to be an obstacle in uniting Western and Asian countries following the emergence of Asian values since the 1990s. Overall, this study suggests that Mahathir is only focused on his country’s national interest and sovereignty and maintaining Malaysia’s international standing. Keywords: Mahathir, Asian Values, Look East Policy, Malaysia. Introduction years from his position as Prime Minister and The return of Mahathir Mohammad on the leader of the Barisan Nasional party (UMNO / Malaysian political stage after retiring for 15 United Malay National Organization) since 42 Verity - UPH Journal of International Relations Faculty of Social and Political Science Pelita Harapan University 2003 produced a separate discourse. It’s meet the electricity needs, Mahathir built the becoming one of the trending topics in several "Bakun Dam" Giant Dam in (Sarawak) East international media because of his age, 93 Malaysia. It is expected that the project can years as a Prime Minister candidate when the meet domestic energy needs. election took place in Malaysia. After In 1997/1998, Mahathir was the key in completing medical studies, Mahathir opened protecting his economy when the neighboring a clinic his birthplace along with his wife who countries experienced economic crises (Dosch, is also a medical expert. However, after a few 2014). He firmly "REFUSED" offers of "soft years Mahathir understood that the country's loans" from the IMF and World Bank. economic conditions related to the welfare of However, this is what makes Malaysia a the Malaysian people were still experiencing a survivor of the huge debt felt by other downturn. This prompted Mahathir to decide countries, such as Korea and Indonesia. to enter politics which began membership in Mahathir said that the economic crisis was his the UMNO party. But his decision right now country's responsibility and that debt with was motivated by the corruption such the issue American institutions (IMF and World Bank) on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (IMDB), was not a solution and guarantee of the future. the lowest national economic growth and huge However, when other countries have difficulty debt under previous government. Regarding facing the economic crisis, they are the background, this study will analyze on inaugurated the twin towers (Twin Tower) of “How does Mahathir’s policy impact toward PETRONAS. The existence of the tower is a Malaysia economy and political symbol of the progress and civilization of development?” Malaysia in the international community. The rapid development of infrastructure in Mahathir Administration Malaysia in the 1990s indicated that Malaysia Mahathir's long journey in Malaysian politics had succeeded in increasing the country's led him to occupy a number of positions, economic growth. starting with parliamentarians, Ministers, and was elected as Prime Minister from 1981 to Mahathir’s Foreign Policy 2003 (Muda, 2008). During his 22 years in To increase domestic economic growth, leading Malaysia, Mahathir has scored various improve human resources, develop technology successes. From the aspect of infrastructure, he and strengthen relations with other countries, has built public transport such as: MRT (Mass Mahathir introduced his foreign policy, Rapid Transit), LRT (Light Rail Transit), and namely "Look East Policy" (Furuoka, 2007). trains that connect several major cities on the The policy became the identity of Mahathir in Malay Peninsula. The saturation of the capital leading Malaysia for more than two decades. city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur as the core of Mahathir clearly said that Malaysia deserves to business, education, and tourism, underwent a learn and adopt cultures from Japan and Korea, significant change when Mahathir created a such as discipline and hard work. Through mega-project namely Pembangunan Negeri Look East Policy, in the aspect of education, Persekutuan Malaysia, Putra Jaya. Mahathir sent tens of thousands of Malaysian Pembangunan Putra Jaya is a solution for the students to continue their higher education in Malaysian government to be more effective Japan and Korea. This indirectly results in and efficient. Putra Jaya was also highlighted closer relations between countries. Students by the International Community for Malaysia's who have completed education at the success in moving its central government. To University become a bridge for Japanese and 43 Verity - UPH Journal of International Relations Faculty of Social and Political Science Pelita Harapan University Korean companies to invest in Malaysia. In Japan and Korea as the country's development addition, Malaysia itself provides easier access models. The UK also stressed the importance to Japanese and Korean investors. In the aspect of cooperation between Commonwealth of technology, Japan indirectly transfers countries. However, the labels and technology with the construction of public assumptions of the western state turned out to transport, such as: MRT and LRT. This be like a passing wind for Mahathir. The certainly makes the Malaysian Community West's distrust of Malaysia to become a understand and enjoy global technological developed country is a challenge for Mahathir. advancements that have been developed by Of course, the West is aware that the developed countries. deterioration of their relationship with Malaysia has an impact on the slow pace of Regarding national cars, Mahathir offers economic growth. In addition, Mahathir also cooperation in the automotive sector with emphasized its citizens to continue higher Japanese companies, such as Mitsubishi, education in Japan and Korea not to UK, US, Toyota, Honda, and Kawasaki to help or other European countries. Mahathir's policy Malaysia produce national car products became a warning and slap for western popularly known as PROTON (Furuoka, countries, especially the UK, which at that 2007). PROTON's presence became a symbol time carried out controversial policies with of reinforcement for the progress of Malaysia increases in tuition fees for all foreign students at that time, because Malaysia became the first in the U.K. Universities (Furuoka, 2007). This country in Southeast Asia to have a National made Mahathir send a protest note and hold a Car. Furthermore, PROTON is produced in limited meeting to avoid negative effects for large quantities to be sold to neighboring Malaysian students studying in the UK. countries. ASEAN member countries, such as Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Mahathir, Asian Values, And Economic Thailand, have become PROTON markets at Growth the regional level. Even