Malaysia’s Posture in the Indo-Pacific Construct

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific (IP), the region covering the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Region, is concurrently shaping the posture of international affairs. As a littoral state and critical partner in the IP construct, Malaysia’s responses to this stance are inevitable due to its geostrategic location in the construct. This article argues that Malaysia’s posture vis-à-vis the IP as that of a ‘neutralist’. The discussion is divided into two sections. The first section describes weaknesses in the quadrilateral security dialogues (Quad) centrality using the features of regional security complex theory (RSCT). The second section discusses Malaysia’s neutrality vis-à-vis the IP construct. The article argues that, while opportunities can be seen in terms of strengthening the existing relations and tapping into new areas of partnership, Malaysia may face challenges in the form of marginalisation and entrapment. Apprehension is still prominent; therefore, the concept is in a ‘wait and see’ mode. The article concludes that the catalyst is found by drawing a more effective vision of the concept and is the key, particularly if the IP aspires to attract and appeal to Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia.

Sino-Us Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific: Exploring Responses From Malaysia and Indonesia

“…Malaysia, however, faces difficulties as a result of the Indo-Pacific strategy's broad scope, which is more heavily influenced by geopolitics than geography. As a relatively small country with a primary focus on internal development, Malaysia prioritises regional stability (Krishnan, 2020).…”

“…Developing a more defined vision for its Indo-Pacific strategy is crucial, especially if the US aims to attract Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia. Therefore, Malaysia's posture within the Indo-Pacific framework is neutral (Krishnan, 2020). The reasons behind Malaysia's cautious approach include domestic political transitions and concerns about being drawn into great power rivalries.…”

“…Theoretical and Conceptual Framework Author(s) Regional Security Complex Theory Krishnan, 2020 International-domestic interaction approach Chin, 2023 Krishnan (2020) contextualised the discussion from the lens of regional security complex theory, providing a foundation for regional settings and analysed the role of Malaysia in these complex regional settings. In contrast, Chin (2023) integrated the international-domestic approach to analyse the impact of the systemic environment on the behaviour of the state (See Table 4).…”

Deciphering blue economy for SMEs in Malaysia: A dual approach through scoping review and stakeholder conversations

“…A comprehensive understanding of the Malaysian context is imperative in the analysis of this discourse. Malaysia exhibits a strong interest in the blue economy owing to its advantageous geographical location between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as its expansive coastline (Krishnan, 2020;Millar, 1969). These ecosystems play a crucial role in supporting the country's ports and shipping sectors, mining operations, and offshore oil and gas extraction (Ridzuan et al, 2022).…”

The Role of the Navy in Serving the Security, Prosperity and Order at Sea: An Overview of the Indo-Pacific Construct

“…This area is a geography alteration from the previously known "Asia Pacific" canton a decade ago. The shift from "Asia Pacific" to "Indo-Pacific" focuses on the Indian Ocean and a rising India (Krishnan, 2020). From a strategic viewpoint, the shaping of the IP is based on an information security framework between the United States (US), Japan, Australia and India known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).…”