SAIFUDDIN CHAIRS FIRST CCFP MEETING, DISCUSSES MALAYSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY FRAMEWORK

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Sept  -- The Consultative Council on Foreign Policy (CCFP) serves as as a platform for the formation of Malaysia's foreign policy framework under the present government, said Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

He said the 15-member council, comprising senior ministry officials as well as representatives from the business, civil society and academia, met for the first time on Friday.

Six key issues were discussed at the meeting – namely health diplomacy, multilateralism and its importance, the digital economy, cybersecurity, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and cultural diplomacy.

“Health diplomacy is talked about all over the world today; it is not just about vaccines; it involves many other topics such as science, research, including business, that we have to take into account,” he said.

In terms of multilateralism, Saifuddin said the meeting discussed the concept of ‘peaceful coexistence’ – or living together in a culture of peace – as something that Malaysia wants to highlight in discussions on multilateralism.

"The digital economy and cyber security is something that we should look at more seriously, because it is not only a matter of security but also technology and international trade and economy," he said at a virtual press conference.

In terms of the SDGs, Saifuddin said it would be implemented through the 12th Malaysia Plan which will be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in Parliament on Sept 27.

Stressing that the framework is not about reformulating a new Malaysian foreign policy, Saifuddin said the policies that has been in practice will continue, including the question of national sovereignty and defending the country's political, security and economic interests.

Fundamental policies such as placing ASEAN as a priority, practicing the principle of goodwill with all countries and playing a role on all important international platforms such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will be maintained.

"Wisma Putra has always been looking at new approaches or areas of focus to be highlighted to further strengthen the role (of Wisma Putra) and the implementation of Malaysia's foreign policy," he said.

Apart from that, he said the conflicts in Afghanistan and Myanmar are also the focus of the meeting, with several members giving suggestions on how Malaysia could play a role in the issue.

Saifuddin, at the meeting which he chaired, handed out appointment letters to 14 more CCFP members. They are deputy foreign minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar; foreign ministry’s director general Datuk Seri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob; Malaysia’s permanent representative to the UN Datuk Dr Ahmad Faisal Muhamad; Mercy Malaysia’s founder Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood; CyberSecurity Malaysia’s CEO Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab; President of National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) Datuk Low Kian Chuan; co-chair of Malaysian CSO-SDG Alliance Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria; Commissioner of Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Jerald Joseph; CEO of Strategic Change Management Office (SCMO) for MyDigital, Fabian Bigar; Chief Executive of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) CEO Herizal Hazri; CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Mahadzir Aziz; assistant professor at the National University of Singapore Dr Dian Diana Abdul Hamed Shah; secretary-general of Third World Network (TWN) Dr Chee Yoke Ling; and CEO of Global Peace Malaysia Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin.

Saifuddin said the combined expertise of CCFP members is expected to contribute towards a pragmatic and resilient foreign policy-making process in facing current challenges, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, besides ensuring it is in line with the concept of 'Malaysian Family' which put the people’s prosperity as its focal point.

-- BERNAMA