Australia‐Malaysia Security Cooperation as a Pivotal Component for More Stable Bilateral Relations

Abstract

In the 1980s and 1990s, Australian‐Malaysian relations reached a critical juncture due to a series of crises, such as the 1986 capital punishment of convicted drug smugglers Barlow and Chambers, and the 1993 “recalcitrant” jibe by Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating. Following the election of the Howard government in 1996, relations continued to be on a roller coaster with the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad leading anti‐Australia protests over the “Howard Doctrine,” the Australian leadership of the 1999 intervention in East Timor, and the “Deputy Sheriff” controversy. Despite this, defense relations between the two remained strong. The success of this cooperation rests on shared political commitment to the security of the region. This article examines the impact that positive cooperation in “high politics” has had in mitigating the negative aspects of crises in “low politics.” It argues that close bilateral defense relations have worked to prevent the emergence of further critical junctures in 2012 following the collapse of the Australian‐Malaysian refugee swap deal and statements by Australian politicians about Malaysia's poor treatment of asylum seekers, and in 2013 over the overt support by many Australian politicians of the opposition, especially Anwar Ibrahim, during the Malaysian general elections.

When Transit States Pursue Their Own Agenda

“…Yet, despite their sometimes tense political relationship, Australia and Malaysia have a long history of cooperation in the areas of defense and security. Formal defense cooperation was strengthened by the 1992 Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Program, while more recently the two countries have cooperated in response to emerging threats such as international terrorism (Snyder 2015). As a member country of the Bali Process, Malaysia has worked alongside Australia to deal with people smuggling and transnational crime, culminating in the 2009 establishment of the Malaysia-Australia Working Group on People Smuggling and Traffi cking in Persons.…”

Australia‐ASEAN relations: A special relationship

“…For example, Kim and Raswant (2023) looked into Australia's relationship with South Korea as another important pillar in buttressing the former's Indo‐Pacific strategy. On the other hand, Snyder (2015) studied the Australia‐Malaysia relationship and how closer security cooperation has improved bilateral relations previously defined by thorny sociopolitical issues. Finally, Taylor (2020) examined Australia's Indo‐Pacific concept and how it seeks to engage it as a middle power.…”