Fiji Seeks To Deepen Bilateral Cooperation With New Malaysian Government - Envoy

By Nabilah Saleh KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Fiji seeks to deepen cooperation with Malaysia at multilateral level, specifically now with the new Malaysian Government under Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, says High Commissioner to Malaysia, Kolinio Takali. Citing the Malaysian prime minister’s speech at the recently concluded 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, he was optimistic the warm ties between Fiji’s capital Suva and Kuala Lumpur could be strengthened in many areas of cooperation, including defence, security and economy. “With Dr Mahathir back at the helm of Malaysia’s leadership, developing countries like Fiji will again look to Malaysia as a champion of our interests at the multilateral level, a task he undertook brilliantly during his previous term as prime minister. “I have, no doubt that the developing world will benefit immensely from what Dr Mahathir has to offer. This is where Fiji needs Malaysia’s support,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at the embassy here recently. In emerging global issues like climate change and oceans which Fiji had been championing, Takali said such call needed to be posed as a consistent reminder with superpowers and developed countries so that they were aware of, and fulfilled their obligation. “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has to be delivered and Malaysia’s cooperation with Fiji and the developing world is crucial in this regard.” In UNGA, Dr Mahathir’s speech outlined the country’s expectations of the UN as the principal international organisation mandated to maintain international peace and security, which highlighted Malaysia’s position, focus and relations with superpower countries and other issues, namely that of Palestine, Muslims in Rakhine, free trade and tariff restrictions. The last time Dr Mahathir addressed the UNGA was at the 58th session in 2003 when he was the country’s fourth prime minister. Elaborating, as Fiji and Malaysia shared common ground and desire to maintain peace and security in the region and the rest of the world, Takali said the existing defence ties could be strengthened further through capacity building programmes. “Both countries have demonstrated this in concrete terms by dispatching soldiers as peacekeepers in various conflict hotspots. “Malaysia’s defence cooperation programme has greatly benefited Fiji’s military in which the demand for training has not decreased and this is an area I would like to strengthen with Malaysia,” he said, noting that extensive discussions on security cooperation between both parties currently took place with regard to transnational crime. He pointed out the increasing transnational crime had even forced Fiji to engage more with ASEAN member countries in that they were now an observer with ASEANAPOL, the multinational Police Force of ASEAN that dealt with aspects of transnational crime. “This year, our Commissioner of Police met with his Malaysian counterpart and discussed areas where Fiji and Malaysia could strengthen cooperation to address transnational crime,” said the high commissioner. Kuala Lumpur was made the permanent seat for the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, becoming fully operational from Jan 1, 2010. Fiji’s relations with Malaysia continues to flourish from the days of the Malayan Emergency to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1977. Having gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1970, Fiji is made up of over 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. -- BERNAMA