Why Can't We Trust Our Military Allies?
Malaysia is not relying on pacts with other countries in defending its sovereignty. Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Zin said the country was ready to protect itself if others who had signed defence pacts with Malaysia did not honour the agreements. "If our allies do not honour the understanding with them and do not come to assist, we have no other choice and we have to defend the country alone."
Presently, Malaysia has signed defence agreements with Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, among others.
A statement like this worries me, especially when it comes from a senior man like the deputy defence minister. Why maintain pacts with countries that you cannot depend on in a crisis? And why call them allies in the first place? It shows that either we have a strange way of picking friends or somehow our policies are not in tandem with a majority of them which is probably true.
This is what happens when you wear too many hats - regional leader wannabe, non-aligned supremo wannabe, Islamic leader wannabe etc. etc. When all these diverse interests clash, our 'allies' start doubting our real intentions and question our commitment to these very pacts.
Add to that the sinister backroom plotting and poisoning of minds by backstabbers like Singapore, who will be more than deliriously happy if things go seriously wrong for Malaysia in any crisis, and the end result is a statement like that from the deputy defence minister. What do we therefore do in the eventuality of war? Its easy to say "our defence forces are there". But can their might match our claims?
It will be in our interest to realistically ponder the reasons why things have come to this stage and redress if possible the problems that gave rise to these doubts about our allies' commitment. The main and perhaps the only pertinent question is, are we to blame for this situation or the rest of them?
Presently, Malaysia has signed defence agreements with Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, among others.
A statement like this worries me, especially when it comes from a senior man like the deputy defence minister. Why maintain pacts with countries that you cannot depend on in a crisis? And why call them allies in the first place? It shows that either we have a strange way of picking friends or somehow our policies are not in tandem with a majority of them which is probably true.
This is what happens when you wear too many hats - regional leader wannabe, non-aligned supremo wannabe, Islamic leader wannabe etc. etc. When all these diverse interests clash, our 'allies' start doubting our real intentions and question our commitment to these very pacts.
Add to that the sinister backroom plotting and poisoning of minds by backstabbers like Singapore, who will be more than deliriously happy if things go seriously wrong for Malaysia in any crisis, and the end result is a statement like that from the deputy defence minister. What do we therefore do in the eventuality of war? Its easy to say "our defence forces are there". But can their might match our claims?
It will be in our interest to realistically ponder the reasons why things have come to this stage and redress if possible the problems that gave rise to these doubts about our allies' commitment. The main and perhaps the only pertinent question is, are we to blame for this situation or the rest of them?
posted by The Malaysian. at 7/17/2006 08:10:00 PM
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